Abbot's Archives

On this day fifty-five years ago, our Monastery church, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, was formally blessed as the place of worship for the monks of Christ in the Desert and its guests. We keep the day as a Sunday, with more solemn celebration of the Conventual...

Throughout the Summer months we have been enjoying roses blooming in our cloister garden. Occasionally the flowers are used to decorate in church and at other times left to be viewed "in situ," right where they blossom. We are staying well and keeping busy with the...

Of late we are getting rainfall, much needed and much appreciated. The threat of forest fires is greatly reduced now and the Chama Canyon is once again "turning green," as it usually does in July and August. These days we are getting various landscaping projects...

Not seen every day here, but more frequently than fifty years ago, Bighorn Sheep are another natural wonder in the high desert of New Mexico. Today's photo was taken by one of our monks while on a trip to town on September 13th. The majestic ram in the photo was...

Today our dear confrere, Father Bernard Cranor, died peacefully at the Monastery . He was ninety-two years old and lived a very long and fruitful life, first for a short time as a Trappist monk in Utah, then as a Dominican friar for many years, then as a monk of...

We are already feeling a definite "cooling down" in the mornings, with temperatures in the mid to low 50s. By afternoon, the mercury climbs to the low 80s. To everything, there is a season. We continue our daily round of prayer and work and welcoming people for days...

The psalmist, writing thousands of years ago, had this to say, presumably while pondering the wonders of God's creation: "The heaven's proclaim the glory of God and the firmament shows forth the work of God's hands. Day unto day takes up the story and night unto night...

The German Benedictine nun, Gertrude of Helfta, now known as Saint Gertrude the Great, who lived from 1256 to 1302, once made a very insightful observation about Benedictines. One day in contemplation, Gertrude considered Saint Benedict and his followers under the...

The days fly by, at least for us in the Chama Canyon wilderness. Summer skies hold their own beauty at this time of year, most especially at sunset. The days are now visibly growing shorter and daytime temperatures are "only" in the mid-80s. That's cooler than several...

After a very fine downpour a week ago, we've seen very little rain since. Some days appear promising with regard to moisture, as in today's photo, but then nothing comes of it. In any case, we keep praying for more rain. We continue indoor and outdoor projects to...

We are finally getting some rain and are very grateful for the gift. Roses are blooming in the cloister garden and Easter lilies are lining up nicely for a third flowering. The first was at Eastertime, the second was in late Spring, and now the third in mid-Summer....

Each Tuesday and Thursday evenings the monks gather for about 20 minutes for a period of "recreation," as it is called in monastic culture. The time consists of simply relaxing and speaking, enjoying one another's company in what is usually lively conversation. We...

Today's photo is another view from atop the mesa behind and above our monastery buildings. Clouds are forming, but we still await the arrival of rain, very much needed in the great Southwest. It is hard to believe we are already in mid-August and celebrating the...