The Carmel of Santa Fe is nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southern terminal of the Rocky Mountain range, east of the historic city.  Its location in the high desert of northern New Mexico is reflective of the spirit of the monastery, that of prayer in solitude, poverty and simplicity in lifestyle, faithfulness to enclosure and a warm family spirit in community living.

The life lived within is very simple: we rise before dawn to offer a united chorus of praise to the Author of life, which soon hushes to the stillness of communion with Him in personal prayer, followed by gathering around the altar for Holy Mass. Hours of simple manual work done before God’s eye alternate with the recitation of the Divine Office in common, a coming together toward evening to share with one another the fruits of the day, a return to community prayer and a final closing with Lectio Divina before retiring for the night.This however, provides only a look at the outer structure, the shell.To find the kernel one must probe into the “why” of life in Carmel, which will ever be rooted in God’s own revelation of Himself: “I Am Who Am”.God Is – therefore all our life is a reaching out to Him, a quiet contact with Him within ourselves, a loving service of our neighbor in whom He lives, an enlightened surrender to the circumstances and events of life which convey His will.God Is– this is the silent message a monastery is meant to proclaim.We can best serve humanity by drawing all into this search for Him, the “one thing necessary” of human existence.