A Typical Day at the Desert House of Prayer

The Staff-Community of Desert House of Prayer strives for a balance between work and prayer and seeks to model for our guests the possibility of a liturgical, contemplative community thriving on silence and the grace of God. Since the primary purpose of Desert House of Prayer is to foster a life of contemplative prayer for the individual, our guests may expect only a limited experience of community, especially at table and worship.

Time spent at Desert House provides the following components:

Worship
The chapel at the Desert House of Prayer bears the title "Our Lady of Solitude" as a constant reminder that Mary could not have attained that most distinctive of all Christian vocations, Hearer of the Word, without silence.

"Only the silent hear and those who do not remain silent do not hear."--Pieper

The Eucharist and communal praying of the Psalms (Liturgy of the Hours) are celebrated daily and much of the tone and spirit of Desert House of Prayer is conveyed in these settings. Sunday is particularly festive as it marks the Day of the Lord while remembering and anticipating the feast of Christ's resurrection.

Contemplative Prayer
Each day contains two periods of communal "Centering Prayer," wherein the participants develop, through practice, an awareness of the presence of God. Each month there is a Centering Prayer Retreat of three days with four Centering Prayer periods per day.

Reading and Personal Study
The Thomas Merton Library contains 6,000 volumes, mostly on Scripture, spirituality, biography and theology. All of Merton's works and associated writings are housed in the library's west wing. Teachers of the contemplative life are also available in our Video collection. Contemplative writers find Desert House of Prayer and its library to be a supportive resource for their research and study.

Spiritual Direction

"There is no one now living who sees with his/her own eyes the great illusion in which we walk and the blindness we suffer."--St. Teresa of Avila

Three trained spiritual directors (two sisters and a priest) are available for individuals who come to discern the path and perspective for their lives.

A variety of physical work on the premises, both indoor and out, is available for those who desire it. Long-term guests often choose a personal work project on the grounds, in the kitchen or library, as a means of contributing to the well-being of the community and their own experience of integration.