Notes, Homilies, and News
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Fill Us With Your Mercy in the Morning, Lord.
Baptism of the Lord
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38, Matthew 3:13-17 With today's liturgical celebration of the Baptism of the Lord the beautiful Christmas season draws to a close. Yes, we monks keep the Manger Scene in church and Christmas...
Monastic Musings
I have been rereading a publication from 1964, the year that the Monastery of Christ in the Desert was founded. The booklet, or really an expanded vocational brochure, is called, “Come to the Mountain.” The text is by the famous Trappist monk and author, Thomas Merton...
Little Lamb, Who Made Thee? Dost Thou Thou Know Who Made Thee?
“All the Ends of the Earth Have Seen the Saving Power of Our God” (Psalm 98).
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...
Silence Made Visible
Brothers Pio and Savio Renew Simple Vows on December 27th
Holy Family Sunday
Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 In our Catholic Liturgical Calendar the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas is always dedicated to the mystery of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This year “on the fifth...
A Blessed and Merry Christmas to All!
On The Way to Bethlehem
Christams Eve and Christmas Day Schedule
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. An otherwise whimsical Charlie Brown Christmas card I received this year contains a splendid message that reads: “If there ever...
O Emmamuel, God with Us. For You the Nations Have Longed. O Come and Save Us.
O King of All Nations and Their Longing. You are the Cornerstone in Whom All are One. (O Antiphon of December 22nd)
“O Rising Sun, Radiance of Eternal Light, Sun of Justice. Come and Flood with Light All Who Sit in Darkness and in the Shadow of Death.”
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A
Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, That we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ thy Son Was made known by the message of an Angel, May by his Passion and Cross Be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. These words form the prayer...
O Key of David, Opening the Gates of God’s Eternal Kingdom: Come and Free the Prisoners of Darkness (Gospel Acclamation verse for December 20th, an adaptation of O Antiphon).
“A Shoot Shall Come Out From the Stock of Jesse, and a Branch Shall Grow Out of His Roots” (Prophet Isaiah 11:1).
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
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