Notes, Homilies, and News
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Abbatial Blessing of Abbot Christian Leisy, OSB on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
A Resplendent Day for an Abbatial Blessing On the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe blessed the Rt. Rev. Dom Christian Leisy, OSB as Abbot of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Approximately 400...
read more4th Sunday of Lent, Cycle C—2019
4th Sunday of Lent, Cycle C--2019 FIRST READING Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you." While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of...
read moreTwo New Simply Professed
On March 21st, the Feast of the Passing of Our Holy Father Saint Benedict, two of our novices made their simple or first profession of vows, promising obedience, stability and conversion of life as Benedictine monks. This took place during the Conventual Mass at our...
read moreTwo New Novices
We received two new novices into our community on Wednesday evening, March 20th. They are Brothers Charbel Gomez and Benedetto Reinte, pictured here with Abbot Christian. Please keep these brothers in your prayers and be assured of their prayers as well.
read more3rd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C–2019
3rd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C--2019 FIRST READING Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the Lord appeared to...
read moreA Lenten Meditation
Once upon a time a father gave his little son some chewing gum, and the son took it but said nothing. “What do you say when you are given something good?” asked the father. “I want more,” replied the child. That is an understandable enough reaction of a little...
read more2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C—2019
2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C--2019 FIRST READING Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 The Lord God took Abram outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so," he added, "shall your descendants be." Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it...
read moreAbbatial Blessing of Abbot Christian Leisy , OSB Monday, March 25, 2019
1st Sunday of Lent, Cycle C–2019
1st Sunday of Lent, Cycle C--2019 FIRST READING Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Moses spoke to the people, saying: "The priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the Lord, your God. Then you shall declare before the Lord, your God, 'My...
read moreA Blessed and Holy Lenten Season to All!
8th Sunday of the Year, Cycle C–2019
8th Sunday of the Year, Cycle C--2019 FIRST READING Sirach 27:4-7 When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one's faults when one speaks. As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in tribulation is the test of the just. The fruit of a tree...
read morePhotos From the Benedictine Abbots Workshop at Saint Bernard Abbey, Cullmam, Alabama
Cemetery chapel, Saint Bernard Abbey, Cullmam, Alabama, where Abbot Christian is attending the annual Benedictine Abbots Workshop this week. Spring is arriving in Alabama, where Abbot Christian is this week for Abbots'...
read more7th Sunday of the Year—Cycle C—2019
7th Sunday of the Year--Cycle C--2019 FIRST READING 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 In those days, Saul went down to the desert of Ziph with three thousand picked men of Israel, to search for David in the desert of Ziph. So David and Abishai went among Saul's...
read more6th Sunday of Ordinary Time — Cycle C –2019
6th Sunday of Ordinary Time -- Cycle C --2019 FIRST READING Jeremiah 17:5-8 Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys...
read moreTeacher
Dear Friends in Christ, It has been many years since I have been a regular teacher in the formation program at our monastery, but as abbot I am doing it once again. In the past, I mostly taught classes to the postulants and novices on the Books of Psalms, the Rule of...
read more5th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle C-2019
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle C-2019 FIRST READING Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above. They cried one to the other,...
read moreLaudato si
While many parts of the United States are in the grips of inclement, or perhaps more accurately, horrible, weather, with record-breaking freezing temperatures, we in New Mexico are enjoying mild daytime temperatures, around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or higher. This is...
read more4th Sunday of Ordinary Time–Cycle C—2019
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time--Cycle C-- 2019 FIRST READING Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 The word of the Lord came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. But do you gird your...
read moreDID 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
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