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2023 Journal

Christmas 2023 at Santa Rita Abbey

Who can contemplate Eternity being born, Power itself failing, Bread going hungry, the Spring itself growing thirsty, without becoming speechless? But who can contemplate the beginning of our salvation, the day of human healing, without bursting forth in a voice of exultation and praise, the sound of one keeping festival? God has been made a man; who knows how to

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Reflections on the Gospel

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 23, 2023: The Eve of the 4th Sunday of Advent. As we light the fourth candle on our Advent wreath this evening “A Child is born to us. A Son is given to us. Upon his shoulder dominion rests and his name shall be called, “Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:5) So we shall sing on Christmas

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2023 Christmas Newsletter

Dear Friends, Our 2023 Christmas newsletter is here!  The biggest event of the year was the April 22nd celebration of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of our monastery. Inside the newsletter, you will see a photograph of twenty smiling Trappist Cistercians–our community of ten sisters plus the monks and nuns from eight different monasteries who came to help us

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Reflections on the Gospel

Third Sunday of Advent

December 16, 2023: The Eve of the Third Sunday of Advent. As we light the third candle on our Advent wreath this evening “His kingdom will spread ever wider, and of peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus, Prince of Peace, help us to become peace, justice and love in our world. Let us choose your kingdom over promoting

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Reflections on the Gospel

Second Sunday of Advent

December 9, 2023: The Eve of the Second Sunday of Advent. As we light the second candle on our Advent wreath this evening “Behold the Man! The Orient is his name. He shall sit upon his throne and rule, and he shall speak peace to the nations.” So we sang on the feast of Christ the King. Jesus, Promised One,

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Reflections on the Gospel

First Sunday of Advent 2023

December 2, 2023: The Eve of the First Sunday of Advent. This evening, we stand on the brink of Advent. Before us stretches three weeks, twenty-one days where we will journey into the mystery of Emmanuel, God-with-us in the person of Jesus, the Gift of the Father. In the centuries before Jesus’ coming among us, the world was much as

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Reflections on the Gospel

CHRIST THE KING

November 26, 2023: A Reflection for the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Matthew 25:31-46 Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Mt 25:29) “In the evening of life we will be judged on love alone.” So says the great Spanish mystic John of the Cross. The past few Sundays, the Church has been

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2023 Journal

November 2023 Santa Rita Abbey Update

November 5 – 11: National Vocation Awareness Week In honor of this year’s National Vocation Awareness Week, we are putting the spotlight on the three nonagenarians in our monastery. There they are in the photo below, left to right: Sr. Clare, Sr. Miriam and Sr. Jacqueline. They want you to notice their colorful socks, lest you think that being in

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Monastic Experience Weekend

WHO: Women ages 20 to 40 who are interested in or discerning religious life

WHEN:  April 10 (Fri) 4 pm ~ April 12 (Sun) 6 pm, 2026

WHERE: Santa Rita Abbey, 14200 E Fish Canyon Rd Sonoita AZ 85637-6545   

COST: No fee    

REGISTER:  Monastic Experience Weekend, 2026

CONTACT:  [email protected] / 520-604-7972

FURTHER INFORMATION:  Monastic Experience Weekend

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