Notes, Homilies, and News

Living in a part of the United States suffering drought conditions, we were happy to wake up to freshly fallen snow in the Chama Canyon, several inches of it no less. Not likely to remain on the ground very long, the "silence made visible," as snow is sometimes...

We are rapidly approaching the first full moon of the Spring Equinox, which will occur on March 28th. This year it will also be Palm Sunday. The following Sunday, April 4th, the Festival of Festivals, Easter, will be celebrated. The mural below, in our monastic...

On Sunday, March 21st, our Father Zachary made his first profession of vows as a Benedictine monk of Christ in the Desert. He has completed his novitiate here and before coming here, served for many years as a diocesan priest in Japan. Father Zachary is part of our...

On Saturday evening, March 20th, our Brothers Boniface and Chrysostom  renewed their simple, also called temporary, vows, for another year. This time of formation leads, God willing, to final or solemn monastic profession in the future. Both monks give themselves...

"May I be no one's enemy, and may I be a friend of that which is eternal and abides. May I never quarrel with those nearest me: and if I do, may I be reconciled quickly. May I love, seek and attain only that which is good. May I wish for everyone's happiness and envy...

At 4:00 pm each Friday during Lent we pray as a community the Stations of the Cross. Reflecting on the way that Jesus walked, leading up to his crucifixion, helps us unite ourselves more completely to the love of God for every human being, past, present and to come....

Today the Universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Foster-father of Jesus and Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Francis has designated this year as the "Year of Saint Joseph," encouraging extra prayer to and contemplating the life of Saint...

Several centuries before the birth of Christ, the Prophet Isaiah wrote: "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: O that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the...

Our beautifully blooming Amaryllis is a sight to behold. Beginning to bud this year on Laetare Sunday, March 14th, the fourfold flowers, facing north, south, east and west, are now in full bloom. Sometimes the flower is called a "March Lily," for its flowering time....

Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee. Gave thee life & bid thee feed. By the stream & o're the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing wooly bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice! Little Lamb who...

The Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 14th this year, is traditionally called "Laetare Sunday." Laetare is the Latin word for "Rejoice." That is the first word of the Entrance Antiphon for Mass on that day: "Rejoice, Jerusalem." Why rejoice? Because "our salvation is...

Yesterday, March 13th, on a rather blustery Saturday afternoon, a new lamb was born here, a chocolate-colored ram. Our flock of ewes was aflutter with excitement at the new arrival, not to mention the brothers who tend the sheep, who were also on hand to witness the...

Each night at the conclusion of Compline, the final communal prayer of the day, the abbot blesses the brethren with holy water. The abbot moves among the monks standing in their choir shall, sprinkling some holy water on the head of each monk, who bows and makes the...

The monastery church is where we spend a great deal of time worshiping God--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--at the daily Conventual Mass and the Divine Office, as well as praying for the needs of family, friends, benefactors and all people, near and far, interceeding for...

While still not warm enough outside for plants to bloom, inside is another story. One such example is pictured below. We can see some green grass beginning to emerge in the cloister garden and a second one, outside of our church, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary....