Notes, Homilies, and News
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December 31st: Seventh Day of Christmas
On this last day of the civil year 2024, many people sing the Scottish-origin song "Auld Lang Syne." And what does that mean? Literally, "Old Long Since," or less literally "for old time's sake," with the first words, "Should old acquaintance be forgotten and never...
January 1st: Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God
Scripture Readings: Book of Numbers 6:22-27; Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 4:4-7; Gospel According to Saint 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...
December 30th: The Sixth Day of Christmas
We continue our celebration of the Christmas Octave and also recall that we are drawing very close to the end of the civil year 2024. In the Church's liturgical calendar, January 1st, the beginning of the New Year, is kept as the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God....
Holy Family Sunday
Readings: Book of Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Saint Paul’s Letter to the Colossians 3:12-21; Gospel According to Saint Luke 2:41-52 In our Catholic Liturgical Calendar, the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas is always dedicated to the mystery of the Holy Family of...
December 29th: The Fifth Day of Christmas
Each morning at the Office of Vigils during the Christmas Octave, we chant "Christ is born for us, come let us adore." The refrain is repeated several times as we pray Psalm 94(95), which calls us to "Come, ring out your joy to the Lord, hail the Rock who saves us."...
December 28th: The Fourth Day of Christmas
The winter thus far (admittedly only a few days old), has been very mild, with no snow to speak of or even rain. We can use both, of course, and pray they might arrive sooner than later. Among our "neighbors" is a family of deer. Today's photo is of two of them,...
December 27th: The Third Day of Christmas
Continuing the Christmas celebrations without ceasing, today the Church in the Liturgy also commemorates the Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, often called "the Divine," for his sublime words in his Gospel narrative and Letters regarding the "Word of Life," Jesus...
December 26th: The Second Day of Christmas
The Christmas Octave consists of eight days of celebrations, which we observe beginning on Christmas Day. In a sense, the Church is telling us that one day is just not sufficient to express our joy and wonder at the mystery of our dear Savior's birth. We likewise...
December 24th: Christmas 2024
"The hands that made the sun and stars were too small to reach the huge heads of cattle." G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) May you and your loved ones have a blessed and Merry Christmas. Be assured of the prayers of the monks of Christ in the Desert throughout the coming...
A Christmas Message
Christmas has come! Our hearts greatly rejoice! Our Redeemer is born! Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will. It has been said: if there ever was a doubt, the Christmas story settles it forever—God really does love us! That just about...
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C
Scripture Readings: Book of the Prophet Micah 5:1-4; Letter to the Hebrews 10:5-10; Gospel According to Saint Luke 1:39-45 On this closest Sunday to Christmas, the Scripture readings for Mass direct our attention to the theme of the coming Redeemer, whom we believe is...
December 17th – 23rd: The “O Antiphons”
Each year the final days of Advent, leading up to December 24th, are graced with the singing of the traditional "O Antiphons" at Vespers, just before the chanting of the "Magnificat," the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, found in the Gospel according to Saint...
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Monastery
Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24th: 5:30 pm - First Vespers of Christmas 7:00 pm - Office of Vigils of Christmas 12 Midnight - Christmas Midnight Mass Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th: 11:00 am - Christmas Mass During the Day Madonna of Montserrat...
December 10th: Advent Greetings
Each year a beautiful Advent wreath, prepared by one of the monks, graces our refectory, as we journey through the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day. We are already nearly half way through the Advent season, and the Scripture readings, antiphons, hymns and...
Third Sunday of Advent, Year C
Scripture Readings: Prophet Zephaniah 3:14-18; Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 4:4-7; Gospel According to Luke 3:10-18 We have reached the half-way point in Advent. The celebration of Christmas draws near, in just ten days. On this Sunday the Church invites us...
Second Sunday of Advent, Year C
Scripture Readings: Book of the Prophet Baruch 5:1-9; Saint Paul's Letter to the Philippians 1:3-11; Gospel According to Saint Luke 3:1-6 On the Second Sunday of Advent the Church has us contemplate the person and mission of Saint John the Baptist, the great prophet...
November 25th: Hands to Work and Hearts to God
With the arrival of cooler weather and less outdoor work, several of our monks engage in craft work, making items for sale in our Giftshop. In today's photo, a brother is making beeswax candles. Other crafts here include goats' milk soap, as well as cologne,...
First Sunday of Advent, Year C
Scripture Readings: Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 33:14-16; First Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Gospel of According to Saint Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 We begin the holy season of Advent this Sunday and a new Liturgical Year has begun. The message we...
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