September 17th: The Gift of Counsel
“Through the spirit of counsel you do not hide away the talent given to you by God, but, working and teaching openly and with humility, you faithfully reveal it to those who desire to learn.” Medieval monk Theophilus, on “The Seven Gifts of the Holy...September 16th: Monastic Profession
On September 6th, the annual Feast of Our Lady of Solitude (La Soledad), Brother Santiago made his first profession of vows as a Benedictine monk at the Monastery of La Soledad, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, and near the city of San Miguel de Allende. La Soledad...September 15th: Easter Lilies!
Each Spring we always plant the Easter lilies from church as they begin to lose their flowers. As today’s photograph testifies, the lilies are beginning to bloom in our cloister garden and will soon be used for arrangements to be placed in front of the icon of...September 14th: Mary’s Garden
Today’s photograph is a view of a garden in our cloister, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The garden is located along an outdoor flagstone path leading to our church from the monks’ residence building. As such, our visitors don’t see the...September 13th: Hay Time
With the gradual approach of winter, though we hope still some weeks away, we have begun our annual purchase of locally-grown baled hay for our livestock, being our flock of twenty Navajo-Churro sheep, one guard-donkey and three horses. Though we have good...September 12th: Thriving Flock
Under Brother Martin’s watchful care, pictured below, our poultry flock is flourishing. The chickens have a very large field in which to eat, exercise and take dirt baths for some twelve hours per day. Every chicken should be so lucky! In any case, ours are as...September 8th: Heirloom Calabacitas
Early this summer a friend of ours from Chama, New Mexico, gave us three tiny heirloom calabacita (squash) plants. They were planted in our cloister garden, where we have a variety of flowers, but the vegetable seem to fit right in. Not yet ready for harvest, the...Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Isaiah 50:4-9; James 2:14-18, Mark 8:27-35 A moment came in the public ministry of Jesus when he asked his disciples what others were saying about him, and who they thought he was. Jesus asked not because he did not know the answer, but to elicit a stance from his...September 7th: Orchard Underway
The soil is being prepared in our soon-to-be-planted fruit orchard, another exciting chapter in our agricultural endeavors. Next month we will get the trees, which should bear fruit within two years. They will join our existing “lonesome apple” already in...September 5th: Raffle Winners
Our August 2021 Raffle was a success and the winners for the drawing are as follows: 10 prizes of $500 each: J.O. of Allen, TX J.G. of Seminole, TX N.P. of Pinole, CA N.V. of Sarasota, FL L.N. of Jersey Village, TX P.H. of Houston, TX T.V. of Garland, TX E. E. of...Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Scripture readings: Isaiah 35:4-7; Letter of James 2:1-5; Gospel According to Saint Mark 7:31-37 In the Gospel today, Jesus cures a deaf man who also has a speech impediment. Freedom from bondage of various kinds is an important sign of the Messianic age which Jesus...September 3rd: Resurfacing
A large section of Highway 84, running from Abiquiu to Chama, has recently been resurfaced. Forest Service Road 151, our “driveway,” though, remains a dirt and gravel road. Day visitors to the Monastery are welcome daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Sunday...September 2nd: Hummingbird Visit
Sometimes hummingbirds fly into our church through the large front door, usually open all summer during the day. The little bird photographed here could not find the way out and eventually landed on the floor of the church. Two monks rescued the bird and got it...September 1st: Roses Still Bloom
There’s sweetness in an apple tree, And profit in the corn; But lady of all beauty Is a rose upon a thorn. Christina RossettiAugust 31st: Good Zeal
“The monks should anticipate one another in honor; most patiently endure one another’s infirmities, whether of body or of character; vie in paying obedience one to another–no one following what he considers useful for himself, rather what benefits...August 30th: Adoration
“God has not created us merely to work with our hands and our brain, but rather to adore in the deep silence of the heart.” French Benedictine Henri Le Saux (1910 – 1973)
"Let everyone that comes be received as Christ."
— The Rule of St. Benedict
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