Notes, Homilies, and News
Click here to subscribe to updates via email.
February 8th: Abbots Meeting
From February 3rd to 6th, Abbot Christian attended the annual meeting of North American Benedictine abbots, held this year at Saint Bernard Abbey, Cullman, Alabama. There were twenty-five abbots present, coming from the United States, Mexico and Canada. The topic of...
February 3rd: The Mind’s Journey to God
Saint Bonaventure, the great medieval Franciscan theologian and Doctor of the Church, wrote a treatise on the journey to God, saying that we learn the ways of God by examining the world, and we proceed to awareness of the truth of God in and through our minds. The...
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
Scripture readings: Isaiah 58:7-10; First Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16 Listening to the scripture lessons for this Sunday, we hear a message that is clearly about being concerned, as followers of Jesus, for the good of others. In our day and age, when money can...
January 30th: As a Deer
The opening words of Psalm 42 (41 in the Greek Septuagint numbering) are: "As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for you, O God." This refrain seems to be a favorite of many who regularly pray the Psalms. We monks chant Psalm 42 every Monday morning at...
January 20th: Monastery Meals
They're not on wheels, nor prefabricated, but our meals are made with care and prayer by our monks on a daily basis. One cook on weekdays and two on Sundays and Solemnities create an array of simple but nourishing meals for our monastic community and the guests who...
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Time A
Readings: Isaiah 8:23-9:3; First Corinthians 1:10-13, 17; Matthew 4:12-33 These first Sunday’s of Ordinary Time we are being called to reflect on the beginnings of Jesus' public ministry. In today's Gospel account, John the Baptizer, who had boldly announced the...
January 17th: Serious Snow
We are reveling in the reality of the arrival of snow in the great Southwest. At long last some serious precipitation is occurring and it is good news in the face of ongoing drought conditions in this part of the globe. What is coming our way is presumably fallout...
January 13th: Care For God’s Creatures
Winter brings its own demands and one of them is keeping our livestock fed and in good health. At present we have and care for four horses, twenty sheep, one donkey, forty-five chickens and a host of bees. Among four monks the animals are kept fed, watered and...
January 11: Raffle Winners
Our twice-annual fundraising raffle drawing, under the direction of our Brother Jude, took place this past Sunday, January 8th, 2023. The eight winners, each receiving $500, are as follows: M.G. -- Austin, TX D.Q. -- Espanola, NM T.G. -- Albuquerque, NM B.T. --...
January 6th: Epiphany of the Lord
We have reached the twelfth day of Christmas, when the Church traditionally celebrates the Epiphany (that is, Manifestation) of the Lord to all the nations. See our "Homily Page" on our website for more details about this great feast. Many parts of the world now...
January 4th: Winter Light
Thus far, winter has been fairly mild in the Chama Canyon Wilderness where the Monastery is located. Of late, though, we have gotten some precipitation in the form of snow, as illustrated into today's photo, a view from across the Chama River. We have had freezing...
Solemnity of the Epiphany
Scripture Readings: Book of the Prophet Isaiah 60:1-6; Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Gospel According to Saint Matthew 2:1-12 The Solemnity of the Epiphany, literally the “manifestation” or “showing” of the Lord Jesus Christ to the nations, is...
January 2nd: Happy New Year 2023!
With the passing of the Winter Solstice, egg production by our flock of hens has increased exponentially, from just a few eggs per day to nearly two dozen. We and our guests enjoy our "homegrown" eggs, either hard boiled or scrambled. Speak of guests, we have closed...
January 1st: Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
Scripture Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 The shepherds who “went in haste to Bethlehem,” as directed by the angel, can be understood as the whole human race seeking Jesus. The quick response of the shepherds to seek the new-born Lord is the...
December 26th: In Loving Memory
On Christmas day this year, Prior Dominic Nguyen, OSB, of Thien Tam (Heavenly Heart) Monastery in Kerens, Texas, died at the age of 53. He had struggled with poor health in recent weeks and died peacefully at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Born in Vietnam on...
December 25th: Christ is Born for us!
To all our families, friends, benefactors and oblates, a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. Be assured of our prayers and please keep us in yours. Thank you. Don't forget: there are twelve days of Christmas! Keep celebrating. Gratefully in the New-Born King of the...
Christmas Midnight Mass
So much can and should be said at Christmas Midnight Mass, but who can say it best and the most eloquently? Not I, I willingly admit. But listening to the many texts, especially from Sacred Scripture during the holy Seasons of Advent and Christmas, I have been struck...
Christmas Mass Schedule
Saturday, December 24th: Mass at Midnight Sunday, December 25th: Mass at 11:00 am May we all prepare well, quietly and peacefully, for the commemoration of the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Be assured of our prayers and please keep us in yours. Thank you. Abbot...
DID YOU KNOW you can search over 10 years of Christ Desert homilies and reflections by typing key words, phrases, scriptural citations, or dates into this search box?
"Let everyone that comes be received as Christ."
— The Rule of St. Benedict
If you have two minutes to fill in our website feedback form, we would love to hear what you think...