Blessings, Peace and Harmony

This latest CD of Gregorian Chant by the Benedictine monks at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert near Abiquiu, New Mexico really hits the spot as a spiritual pick-me-up most anytime of the day, but especially in the early morning hours before dawn (at about 4:00 a.m. or so) when the monks themselves are arising.

Apart from the calming and meditative qualities of the overall chant presentation on this CD, each Latin chant itself can be individually enjoyed for its own stark and austere simplicity and beauty. This is very much in keeping with the life led by these desert brothers at the monastery once visited by Thomas Merton in 1968 before his untimely death in Asia.

For more black & white photographs of the monastery and the community see the recently published (2011) book by Tony O'Brien - "Light in the Desert: Photographs from the Monastery of Christ in the Desert" - taken when he spent about one year living with the monks 24/7.

The Monastery of Christ in the Desert was originally a foundation of Mount Savior Monastery in Upstate New York (Pine City near Elmira). It was also the setting of the television series (a reality show) - "The Monastery" - which was broadcast on cable television (The Learning Channel - TLC) during the second half of 2006.

If you like their chant and would like to hear more, other earlier CDs are available through their online "Monastery Gift Shop" (see Web Site "christdesert.org"). Make an effort to support this ancient way of life and hospitality. Let's keep the monks chanting and praying for you and for me - ceaselessly - and even more CDs are bound to follow!

NOTE: If you like this chant CD, you might also like "Mystical Chants of Carmel" by the Carmelite monks of Wyoming (also available here on Amazon) who are presently raising funds to build a new monastery to last 1,000 years. See their two Web Sites "carmelitemonks.org" and "newmountcarmelfoundation.org" for more information. While you are there you can also try some of their truly "heavenly coffee" (at "mysticmonkcoffee.com"), if you are so inclined.

I have a sizable collection of chant CDs and this is by far the best. Although this is a group recording you can often hear the beautiful individual voices which makes it even more appealing. I listen to it frequently during my daily walks and it leaves me with a feeling of peace and a more acute awareness of my everyday world.

In a world running amuck, this CD provides many restful & meditative moments of enjoyment. The Monks of the Desert, like most devotional communities, embody the basic elements of peace & relaxation which elude those of us caught up in a frenetic existence. The pace of modern life is stressful. Is there any doubt that it fills our lives & being with harmful effects? Pain, disease, shortening of life, antagonism, despair...all may be traced to stress & tension brought on by swimming in the roaring stream of contemporary society. So, I urge you to chill out with this warm & wonderful music of chants. Let the voices of these Christian brothers fill your soul & mind & being with a quieting energy from somewhere deep in the universal source. It will bring you to a quiet time & relaxed state of mind that passes all understanding. May peace prevail...