A New Mexico monastery where the silence calls

December 21, 2025

TL;DR

The Monastery of Christ in the Desert is located along the Chama River in Northern New Mexico.
It houses 15 monks and a guesthouse for visitors seeking quiet.
Founded in 1964, the monastery emphasizes silence, prayer through chanting, and work.
The Rule of St. Benedict, "Ora et Labora," guides the monks' daily life.
Guests are treated as Christ and are encouraged to 'be' rather than 'do' during their stay.
The monks believe they need the world as much as the world needs them, drawing parallels to early desert fathers.
The monastery's location in a canyon with false horizons is presented as a metaphor for spiritual journeys.
Brother John Chrysostom, with extensive academic and professional background, found his calling at the monastery after a pilgrimage.
The monastery utilizes the internet, with Brother David known as 'The Desert Monk' online.

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