Santa Rita Abbey, Cistercian monastery in Sonoita, Arizona.
Santa Rita Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona, situated on grassland at an elevation of about 5,000 feet. The community operates a retreat house with individual rooms and an apartment that welcomes guests seeking prayer and rest.
The monastery was founded in 1972 as a daughter house of Mount Saint Mary's Abbey in Massachusetts and was elevated to priory status in 1978. This establishment reflected a broader movement of monastic communities expanding into the American West.
The monastic community lives by the Rule of Saint Benedict, structuring each day around prayer, manual labor, and crafting altar breads and religious sculptures. Visitors can observe this commitment reflected in the everyday rhythm of the community's work.
The retreat house offers guests access to both monastery and retreat house chapels for prayer and reflection. Visitors should expect a quiet setting and be prepared to respect the community's contemplative lifestyle and daily schedule.
This monastery is the only Cistercian community in the American Southwest and maintains traditional craftsmanship in making altar breads and religious artworks. These handmade products form an important part of their economic sustenance and spiritual practice.
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