Dear Friends in Christ,
At the end of a rather mild winter, Spring began with a wintry flourish here in the Chama Canyon. Snow and hail alternately graced our dry canyon rock walls, arid fields and pebbly roads. In the desert one learns to be thankful for water, in whatever form it comes when it comes.
The surprising beginning of Spring paled in comparison to the pandemic of COVID-19 throughout the world. All of us have been affected by this scourge that has been responsible for the closing of churches, schools, colleges, businesses, sporting events, musical and dramatic performances, and many cherished public venues.
Our monastery, too, has been affected. Medical appointments have been canceled, along with dental, optical, immigration and Social Security appointments for our monks. Benedictines monks make a vow of stabilitas, that is, stability. It would seem that the vow of stability matches perfectly the dictates of state and national public health orders at present. Fortunately we are staying well, and in fact our Rio Arriba County has very few cases of the virus. Thanks be to God.
Nonetheless and sadly, we have had to cancel numerous guest reservations, and visitors and pilgrims are turned back (of course, at the beginning of our long 13-mile road) with a large sign saying that the monastery is currently closed due to COVID-19 containment measures. This means our visitor flow has come to a halt. That also means that our usual income from donations by guests and purchases in our Giftshop by guests and visitors have also ceased.
Therefore, I want to mention that your financial support is very much appreciated and needed more than ever during this unprecedented health crisis. I realize it is not a fortuitous time to ask for assistance, but if some or many are able to, that would be a tremendous blessing to us. Gifts can be given online at our website: www.christdesert.org or by a check made out to “Monastery of Christ in the Desert” and mailed to us at P.O. Box 270, Abiquiu, New Mexico 87510. Thank you for this consideration. We are grateful beyond words.
This year I chose Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians for our community’s common Lenten reading each afternoon, which is called lectio divina. I was particularly struck in lectio this Lent by Paul’s admonishment of the Galatians: “At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves to things that by nature are not gods; but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and destitute elemental powers (Gal 4:8-9)?”
Now, more than ever, is the time for prayer. We join you in watchfulness as God works among us and in us at this very challenging time.
Your giving greatly assists our life of prayer for you and the whole world.
Thank you and God bless. You are in our prayers. Keep us in your prayers, please.
Abbot Christian