I stayed at the monastery for 10 days in August of 2008. Coming from NYC, the silence and isolation of the desert was shocking to my system. It took me a good 3 days to settle in. Knowing the beauty of this place, I almost wish this video was not on YT. Places like this change you. It may not seem apparent at the time but a decade later and I still carry the benefits of this place with me. There`s a reason the prophets spent time in the desert. The silence and stillness heals and allows oneself to tune in to the inner voice that often goes unheard in the busy-ness and noise most of us live in on a daily basis.
Hey Ramos you have no depth of thought. Calling this man a ding-bat, I guess that makes you Archie Bunker. I spent the summer of 2008 and the time I spent there was life-changing, transformative! You should try it our it may teach you some kindness and understanding of the Existential.... God’s Tender Blessings!
Alan, Thank you for this video. I have many fond memories of staying there in the summers in the '80s. My grand parents had close ties to the monastery. I remember helping prepare meals and maintain the grounds with Abbot Philip. It was such a unique and peaceful place to connect with God.
Very nice ! Im living in an Benediktinmonaserty in Bavarian ( Germany) in the high Mountain in the near from the Zugspitze that is the higherst Mountain in Germany. My God bleß you all your brother in Jesus Christ fr. Vitalis M. OSB
I would like to go to see my Nephew in U.S. Pennsylvania to the monestrey.od Domenica order .because of Corona virus I couldn't go I missed his ordination too its so sad.
If this monastry is in the desert since 1964 and brothers from all over the world come here to be with Christ Jesus and experience His life in their life so that they can walk in his footsteps, then it's only the work of the Holy spirit. May the holy spirit bring in more worthy followers here to serve the Lord in His vineyard.❤️GBY
I live in small town in the Sierra Nevada area of California. I'm very fortunate to experience silence and God daily. That monastery looks extremely beautiful and peaceful. I will plan to stay. Thank you for your video.
Great video! I am watching this for the second time now. Enjoying the pace and tranquility of this video. For some the desert holds nothing but emptiness, for others its a place of great rest, enabling a prayerful heart to hear the voice of God.
Hi Alan H. I might be 5 years "late" but I'll comment anyway. I'm from the Philippines and never gone out of my country. Thank you for the tour of New Mexico, it's as if you brought me there, too. Your pace is laudable, I was able to "taste" the surrounding and road. Thank you so much.
Goodness gracious this video brings back memories. I spent much time here years ago. Room 6 was my favorite. Then, there were wood stoves in the guest rooms, just ot mention one of the changes. And oil lamps, because it was before the solar panels. It's wonderful to hear that Brother Andre is s still (or was in 2016) the guestmaster.
Thank you for this beautiful flim, my brother was a monk out in Oregon. He's since passed way on me. , but lii never forget the impact on my life he gave to me.
My ancestors on 3 sides from their NEW MEXICO❤️⛪️📙☕️👑👍🏼I’ve been called of God these last 39 yrs as a evangelist my book is the book of John, hand out;-)) my mission is the 4Corners region Utah, Colorado, NM., & Az ❤🙏🏼to you Brother
Hi Alan...Just finished reading about this monastery in Commonweal. Your video is shot with a monastic pace that I have to admit took some getting used to, but once I did I became entranced with the setting and your calm commentary. The ambient sound is just beautiful: the birds, your steps along the gravel path or through a grassy path festooned with butterflies. Thank you! Your video serves as a contemplative meditation for a hurried world!
Thank you for your kind words. I am an amateur at shooting video, but I tried to convey, at least a little, not only what it looked like, but what it felt like to be there.
Stunning! Thank you for posting this! I had no idea that this monastery existed but having watched it I feel called to visit here for an extended retreat. This is just the setting that I need. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for making this video for people like me to see. It's not easy to find places such as this or any retreat facilities for that matter so, your posting this pn RU-vid is a a great help to those of us interested in participating in retreats. What a beautiful place! It seems you find God easily there! God bless you for your kindness in thinking of sharing this treasure with us.
Just watching this video took me to a peace inside myself. What a beautiful area. Alan, I noticed the respect you showed all there not trying to get them into conversation, being so quite. I love how you mentioned the mother bird getting a little "used" to you. What a generous giving to all of us to be able to feel like we are there. Thank you.
Ich bin Ihnen dankbar für Ihre Reportage. Wie schön ist diese Welt, wie wenig brauchen wir. Eine Heimat, eine Gemeinschaft/Genossenschaft und Menschen die uns beistehen. Es ist bewundernswert, Sie trotzen dem extremen Klima und nehmen Gäste auf.
They do grow a few things in gardens in the enclosure where I could not go. They probably could grow more, but we need to remember that they are at 7,000 feet and like where I live, the growing season is pretty short.
Your video was very beautiful interesting and enlightening...thank you soo much for giving us a lot of information. Living in Western Australia the wilderness bears some similarity with places in this Continent
Joe Vasquez, I respectfully disagree with you, after having almost 'lost-it' on this wild road in a snow-storm in about 1996.....this road is FORMIDABLE. The road is part of the 'adventure!' JP
@@AlanH I walked it in the first time in about 1975 or '76 in February. The wind blows every direction it seemed. I arrived at dark. There is a split where the road crosses the river and I flipped a coin and said a prayer I'd take the right one. I did. It has changed so very much. Quite a spread now. And the population has grown from about 13 to a couple score. I also walked out on that road in summer. I was young and it still took about 6 hours. God be praised!
Going off -the paved track or miles from any humans? Carry an emergency kit in your car with enough supplies to last you seven days. Winter or summer, doesn’t matter!
Quite interesting. I thought at first, It was a Women's (Nuns) Benedictine Monastery. But it's a MEN's (Monks). It Doesn't Say. All you said was it was in New Mexico, Far in the Desert-Approx 13 miles on a Dirt Road. I don't know How they Get their Food, if their not growing a Garden. They have a Beautiful Church, and Gift Shop. And they make money, Renting out the Visitors Inn. Hermit Cabins are just what they Are. Peace, Quiet, Joy, Stillness, Listening to one's inner Heart, Is What EveryBody Needs! Check out the Poor Clare's of Perpetual Adoration in Tonapauh, AZ. Theirs is far into Desert Also. Our Lady of Solitude. Visters Are Welcomed. Mother Andre Maeie,PCPA
What an insightful video. Thanks for sharing the road conditions; it helps me plan my visit. Do you know if the 3 lit crosses up on the mountain, the ones you can see from the church window, can be accessed by hiking trail? That would be a glorious view! Thanks again! 👏🙏
They can be accessed by a trail, however, the brothers actively discourage visitors from hiking to the top of the bluff without one of the brethren accompanying them. Several years ago, a guest fell from the top and was killed. On my most recent visit, I noticed that the lights had stopped working.
It was so peaceful to watch this wonderful video. I’ve been there several times and long to be there right now. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, that’s not possible. But I will return when I can. Yes, the road can be challenging. There are stretches where you hope you don’t meet a vehicle coming from the other direction. Thanks so much for this “tour”.
Thanks Alan for a tour of the monastery. I have been contemplate to go there but I have few questions for you if I can : What months are the best months to drive there safely ( rain and snow, I am not a good driver for these conditions ) ? How far did you reserve your stay ? I see church, offices with doors wide open during the day, is it hot during the day ?
I was there in late June and early July. The dry months are the best for driving the road -- but even a Summer thunderstorm can make it pretty treacherous. The monastery includes a "road conditions" feature which they keep up-to-date. Even though the monastery is at about 7,000 feet, it can get pretty hot in the Summer. It was about 92 for a couple of days when I was there, but then cooled down. Since their power is from their own solar panels, there isn't enough for air conditioning. The year after this video, I stayed in the Ranch House which has thick adobe walls and stayed cool all day. I made my reservations 6 months in advance, but cancellations can open rooms at any time.
The dirt road in to the monastery is a part of the experience of being there. The road is fine when it is dry, but can be treacherous when wet or snow covered. To me, traveling that 13 mile dirt road symbolizes leaving our everyday world to enter a more spiritual place both physically and internally. It can be a little scary, but it is worth the journey.
Do the guest rooms look similar to the monks cells ?? Same size? Did you feel no a/c was difficult to live with in the heat? I know the monks don’t have a/c
Since I did not go into the monk's enclosure, I don't know how the guest rooms compare to the monk's cells. Since the monastery is at about 7,000 feet in elevation, the heat in the Summer can get uncomfortable, but it is not extreme. At this elevation, it does cool off at night.
It would be great ! Please put it on your video recording list ! Instead of the desert the journey to the monastery would be of farms and pastures. The desert is magnificent. It has a beauty all it's own. Thanks for making this video.
The monastery is open to both men and women. I think there were more women retreatants than men the several times I have been there. They are currently closed during the pandemic, but I am looking forward to the day I can return.
This is not in the Navajo Nation. The Chama River does go through Chamita right before it joins the Rio Grande north of Espanola. I don't know where Pueblo Chimaya is located.
I know nature can speak to you BUT a little sharing of the people you encountered and their daily life might make the drive into the canyon more intriguing!
True, it would have been nice to include more personal contact, but the only time I saw more than one or two of the brothers was at chapel and at meals --- and the meals were eaten in silence. I didn't really want to intrude on other retreatant's private journey, so the personal interaction is minimal in my video.
All of the water used at the monastery comes from the river. The water used in the bathrooms is untreated and you can tell by the smell. It's safe to drink, but I wouldn't advise it, (tastes bad). I did drink some and had no ill effects. Their drinking water is run through a multi-filtration process and a large jug of it is available in the guest breakfast room. It doesn't taste great, but is drinkable. Bring a bottle with you to take some with you to your room. There is also filtered water available in the guest house kitchen, but I don't think that one works as well.
True, I didn't talk about what I was doing there. I spent a lot of time reading, hiking the road, (no trails in the area,) and helping in the gift shop. I suppose I could have talked about some of my meditations, but that would have been really boring!
St DAVID BENEDICTINE MONASTERY WAS SHUT DONE 5 years ago and property under development. 4 Monks there for 40 years had to find new Communities . Tragic Come Holy Spirit Come Back Renew Benedict Communities .
Please do not drive on this Road during the winter, even if you have a all-wheel vehicle. The road is very slippery and dangerous when it is wet or snow. One mistake it could cost your life. We came to visit a monk in December of 2015, the snow was already on the ground. Half way in, the snow stared to fall. It was very scary. On the way out we asked one of the monks to guide us back to the highway.
I drove the road when it was warm and dry. Part of the reason I chose to include so much driving in my video was to show that this road should not be taken lightly at any time. Several thunderstorms came through while I was staying at the Abby and even though it was Summer, the road was slick with mud. I'm glad to hear you made it out without major incident. Anyone visiting the Abby should check the Abby's website for road conditions before driving it. Driving directions and road conditions can be found here: christdesert.org/visiting/directions/
I was going to go till I saw that road w 45 degree drops on one side for 5 miles. That road not made for those w vertigo. No thank you. I 'll go to Pecos monastery
I am saddened Our Lady Guadalupe Pecos New Mexico Dual Monastery was prohibited by Benedictine General Italy . Tragic I participated in House Prayer 1982 changed my life 12 in Group 2 men and 10 women . 1995 School Spiritual Direction best like Training in all my Academic achievements. Then 1996 Completed Spiritual Direction and became Oblate St Benedictine Community . Holy Spirit was ALIVE AND MOVING IN THIS COMMUNITY . ABBOTT DAVID AND ABBOTT ANDREW WERE Spiritual Fathers and Sister Mariam and Sister Elaine Spiritual Mothers . Come Back Holy Spirit Come Back Dual Monastery is needed our our Times in our Broken World .
I know old post, but just seen this, first thought I have is roller-coaster. That road does not look to relaxing to drive down for a sunday drive. Kinda made me dizzy.
mosesmosestv Brother, he could have saved you even more time by not making the video. Be grateful for his thoughtfulness to give a personal tour of the monastery.
I did not get permission to film during services or meals which is virtually the only time I saw the monks -- and during those times, talking was not allowed. There were about 38 monks in residence when I visited and when not at meals or the daily offices, they were in the enclosure where guests are not allowed. I feel that going to a monastery is not a time for socializing. The monastery and the monks in residence set the stage for a guest to have a beautiful, safe, comfortable, interruption-free place for meditation and study.
@@craigmouldey2339 Not sure if this will work here, but these are links to chapel and dining hall stills from Facebook that I sneaked this year -- facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214042342560736&set=pcb.10214042413682514&type=3&theater facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214042343160751&set=pcb.10214042413682514&type=3&theater
Beautiful footage ... however I was concerned by your lack of reverence in the sanctuary ... no genuflecting or deep bowing when walking in front of our Blessed Lord ... left me feeling sad, frankly
Brad Lifto just because you have not been called to this type of religious life doesn't mean others have not. Remember Paul said we are parts of a body, Christ being the head...just cause your the middle finger doesn't invalidate the feet's, eyes, etc
Joe Ramos beautiful, you can see the nature, Gods creation, how awesome his love for the people of the world is, thank you for the lives of the people that lives here, just you and God !!! This is from Fiji Island,
Joe Ramos. It makes sense you have the photo of a child on your profile. Because you are acting like a sniveling little crybaby. Instead of telling someone not to do a video. How about keeping your loudmouth shut. And simply not watching it. People like you really are worthless. You cry, whine, complain and criticize everything and everyone. I don’t even know why you were watching a video about a Benedictine monastery. A nasty hateful man like you. Is the last person who should visit a holy monastery. You’d spend the whole time whining and crying about the heat. Or the food not being tasty enough. You are a joke. Thanks for the wonderful informative video Alan. Pay no attention to idiots like this guy. Saint Vincent Benedictine Abbey in Latrobe PA. Is the biggest Benedictine Abbey in the country. I think it was also the first in the country. You might really enjoy visiting that one. Also I hear the one in Kansas is nice to. God bless.
