A REFLECTION ON LUKE 12:49-53 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” We are surrounded by fire–the fragments of the ball of fire that Jesus cast upon the earth and of which he speaks in this Gospel passage. It was his mission and it consumed him–this passionate desire to
September/October 2016 News from Santa Rita Abbey What beautiful weather we are having at Santa Rita Abbey right now! There’s something special about blue skies in October. Thanks to the rain in September the grass is still green, and there are yellow wildflowers, of all sizes, in bloom everywhere. Last spring we planted muhly grass in the old rosebush beds at
A Reflection for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 9:30-37 Jesus was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.” When you look at today’s Gospel, what do you see? I suppose there are many fruitful
Here at Santa Rita Abbey we celebrate a Sister’s feast day, that is, the feast of her patron saint, more than we do her birthday. In August we have two feast days: Sr. Clare’s on August 11 (the feast of St. Clare of Assisi), and Sr. Esther’s on August 15 (the feast of the Assumption of Mary.) The feast day
REFLECTION ON EXODUS 34:29-35 Radiance! We are just swimming in radiance. It fills us, and all we can look upon, and all that is. The Scriptures tell us, “His radiance fills all things.” Presence could be another word for it. His presence fills all things. How could it be otherwise? Only the veil of creation obscures it, but don’t we experience
Summertime at Santa Rita Abbey What a lovely summertime we are having, overflowing with life! Two chaplains, newborn fawns, young ravens, fresh tomatoes, rain and more rain, visits from friends of the monastery, and two new volunteer helpers just arrived … Fr. Francis Michael, a monk of Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, Georgia, has been with us for seven weeks as chaplain.
CHAPTER TALK FOR THE FEAST OF ST. BENEDICT Here we are, on the Feast of the glorious Benedict. A giant of a saint in so many ways, and whose Rule we follow. And for whom does he write this Rule? Plain, ordinary human beings – you and me and all who follow it and have followed it over the centuries.
Our new Volunteer Helpers program is off to a great start! Our visit first volunteer was here for the month of June. She stayed at the retreat house, joined the community for Mass and the Divine Office, and lent a capable hand wherever she was asked–retreat house, altar bread bakery, monastery kitchen (she’s a great cook!) and house cleaning. We
Rachel Tucci from the University of Arizona’s Hydrology Dept. is doing a study of the ground water in the Sonoita Valley. She took samples from our well on May 14th. By evaluating isotopes and other things in the water, it is possible to theorize the water’s source; that is, did it come from rain falling on the Santa Rita Mountains or from an underground
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