Santa Rita Abbey is a Trappist monastery in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona, welcoming small groups and individual visitors who seek silence, spiritual direction, and desert hospitality.
Guided by the Rule of Saint Benedict, the community combines liturgical prayer, manual work, and sustainable farming to sustain a life of shared solitude and service.
Daily Rhythm and Worship at Santa Rita Abbey
| Time | Weekday | Sunday | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:00 AM | Matins | Matins | Night Office, personal prayer |
| 7:30 AM | Lauds and Breakfast | Lauds and Breakfast | Community meal, brief reading |
| 9:00 AM | Work Period | Work Period | Gardens, maintenance, crafts |
| 12:00 PM | Sext | Sext | Short midday prayer |
| 12:30 PM | None | None | Community lunch, informal silence |
| 3:00 PM | Vespers | Vespers | Evening prayer, reflection |
| 5:00 PM | Compline | Compline | Night prayer, final blessing |
History and Origins of Santa Rita Abbey
Founded in 1972 by Mount Saint Joseph Abbey in Arkansas, Santa Rita Abbey emerged as one of the few Trappist monasteries in the United States dedicated to both cloistered prayer and modest guest hospitality.
The community chose the Sonoran Desert for its harsh beauty, seeing in the dryness a mirror of the soul’s purification and a chance to live the psalm call to “abide in God’s shadow.”
Over decades, the monks have built modest stone structures, established sustainable gardens, and maintained a stable rhythm of work and worship that draws pilgrims from across the continent.
Visiting Guidelines and Pilgrimage Hospitality
Visitors planning a retreat or day visit must initiate contact well in advance, respect silence protocols, and follow posted guidelines that protect the contemplative character of the monastery.
Guest accommodations are limited, and all guests participate in the liturgical hours while allowing ample time for personal prayer, walking in the desert, and silent meals.
The monastery offers simple, shared rooms, and meals are taken in community, with donations supporting the monks’ life of work and prayer rather than functioning as a commercial enterprise.
Spiritual Direction and Monastic Values
Work and Prayer
The monks balance liturgical celebration with manual tasks such as gardening, cooking, and bookbinding, embodying the Benedictine ideal of ora et labora.
Silence and Solitude
Extended periods of silence protect interior freedom, enabling guests and monks to deepen attention to God, Scripture, and the surrounding desert landscape.
Sustainable Living
Organic gardens, water conservation, and modest material use reflect an ecological spirituality aligned with desert stewardship and long-term resilience.
Key Takeaways and Practical Recommendations
- Plan visits well in advance and remain flexible to the monastery’s schedule.
- Embrace silence and limited technology to deepen personal prayer.
- Participate actively in community liturgy and shared meals.
- Support the community through donations or retreats that align with your capacity.
- Approach the desert as a teacher, allowing dryness, beauty, and stillness to shape your spiritual journey.
FAQ
Reader questions
How can visitors schedule a retreat or day visit at Santa Rita Abbey?
Contact the monastery in writing several months ahead, provide preferred dates, a brief description of your spiritual needs, and accept the dates offered subject to community availability.
What should guests expect regarding silence and technology during their stay?
Guests maintain silence outside set times, limit personal device use, and participate fully in communal prayer, meals, and work periods to preserve a shared atmosphere of prayer.
Is photography allowed on monastery grounds or during liturgical services?
Photography is not permitted during liturgy or in areas where it may disturb the monks or other guests, and images of monks are never shared publicly.
How does Santa Rita Abbey support itself and its ministry?
The community relies on donations, guided retreat fees, and income from publishing simple spiritual materials, ensuring that hospitality remains accessible yet sustainable.