The Monastery of Christ in the Desert
Our Benedictine monastic community near Abiquiu, New Mexico, warmly welcomes you to our Abbey on the banks of the Chama River.
Health & Safety
On March 13, 2020, Archbishop John Wester announced the closing of public liturgical services throughout the Archdiocese of Santa Fe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the Monastery is closing all retreat reservations, the giftshop, and the public celebration of liturgical Offices and Mass until further notice.
Be our Guest
We welcome both day visitors and overnight guests for self-directed retreats. We celebrate mass daily, and invite you to pray with us.
Support Us
This monastic community is possible only by the generous support of friends like you. While the Monastery is an officially recognized Roman Catholic organization, it does not receive any direct financial support from the Church.
Explore the Monastery
We warmly invite you to explore a photo gallery that shows where we live and how we go about our monastic life.
Abbot’s Notes, Homilies, and News
We invite you to subscribe to our newsletters to receive homilies and news directly via email.
A Message from Abbot Christian
Over the past weeks we have received so many inquiries, encouragements, and prayers from you all our many friends, benefactors and donors. Again, we thank you for your concern, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rest assured, we are well. We continue...
Love of Silence
Silence is considered an important monastic practice. Much ink has been spilled on the topic, including entire books, but is silence something just for monks to value? By no means! Into every life some silence should fall. Why? Because we are rational creatures, who...
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, CYCLE A
Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:14-45 It is nearly Palm Sunday and Holy Week, but not quite yet! There is still a week until Palm Sunday. We are entering the Fifth Sunday and Week of Lent and the Gospel passage assigned for this Sunday brings us...
Abbot’s Notebook
“Our Monk in Rome” is now “Our Abbot in Abiquiu,” or something like that. There will no longer be new postings on the “Our Monk in Rome” page, but please proceed to the “Abbot’s Notebook” page for my news and views. At least to begin with, there might not be a weekly...
Daily Martyrology for March 31, 2020
The commemoration of St. Amos, the prophet.At the monastery of Mar Saba in Palestine, in 794, St. Stephen, the nephew of St. John Damascene, with whom he entered that monastery at an early age. Stephen served in the community in various capacities until he was 32, then became a hermit. He was a wise and compassionate guide for others, had the gift of healing, and was very fond of animals.
In 1046, at Borgo San Donnino, near Parma, St. Guy, abbot. After spending... read more
Prayer and Chant
Learn more about the Monastic Day or review our Daily Prayer Schedule.
Prayer Requests and Mass Intentions
We are glad to include your requests for prayer in our daily chanting of the psalms. Mass intentions (including the delivery of a Mass card) may be requested for small stipend.
Our Chanting
We have recordings of our chants available on CD and MP3.
Ave Maria
Daily Prayer and Mass Schedule
All are welcome to join us at daily worship. Click here for our daily prayer schedule which begins at 4:00am and ends at 7:30pm.
Current Road Conditions
Updated at 10:00 AM Monday, March 30, 2020.
The Monastery is currently closed to guests due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions.