The writing & works of

Fr. Chrysostom Baer, O.Praem. Prior

The Tabernacle of Moses: The Dedication of the Abbey Church

We celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of the abbey church as a symbol of being ourselves temples of God, together the place where He is worshiped in spirit and in truth. The very architecture of a church tells a mystical story of Christ's love for his church/

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An Easter Message from Father Prior

Resurrexit Sicut Dixit! We don't take enough time to be joyful. Joy is not mere happiness, nor is it happiness despite the darkness around us. Joy is, in a sense, a Christian response to darkness.

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The Presentation of the Lord

Jesus Christ is presented in the Temple, even as He is, Himself, the perfect temple of God.

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Why do we need Christmas?

This is not the question of why the Child deserves it, but rather why do we need to do this? What is it in us that cannot count the year as complete unless we celebrate this holy day?

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Sacred Heart of Jesus

There is no sorrow we can feel that the Sacred Heart does not want to alleviate for us.

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Homily: Anniversary of the Dedication of the Abbey Church

The Church is so profound a mystery that no one image fully plumbs it depths and explains it exhaustively. Each image has its own aspect to emphasize and bring to light in ways the others do not.

The Good Shepherd

The mystery of our Blessed Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection is so central to our faith, such an immovable foundation upon which everything else is based, that He spoke of it not only openly once, twice, and a third time at least, but He also alluded to it in riddles and images, so that by uncovering the truth beneath the veil the hearts of His disciples might be the more confirmed in their conviction that what He had said in plain words was true indeed.

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Homily 3rd Sunday of Easter 2023

"What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast.

The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Worthy and fruitful holy communions increase our faith in the rising of Christ and the hope of our own rising on the last day. Such faith answers the deepest need of the human heart; such belief is itself a witness and proclamation—heart speaking to heart, deep calling on deep.

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Helping Him Die

It was in this Gospel, the Passion according to John, that we heard that the Mother of Jesus stood at the foot of the cross, so close that He could speak to her, in an agonizing rasp, and expect to be heard. Ask yourself for a moment, How is it possible that any mother in such a situation could actually stand?!

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Holy Saturday: A Blessed Night, A Glorious Night

Truly this is a blessed night, a glorious night, when the catastrophic fall of mankind in Adam is revealed in the New Adam to be a happy fault. This is the night whose wonder gleams as bright as the day.

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Good Friday: No Answer

We have no excuse for our ungrateful rejection of His kindness. The liturgy’s only answer to His reproaches is to beg for mercy, from the Greek East to the Latin West

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Holy Thursday: As He Has Loved Us

“A new commandment I give you: love one another…” For this to make sense, we must love ourselves, and love ourselves rightly.

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Stay up-to-date with the Abbey

The Abbot's Circle is a first-of-its-kind virtual monastery—an evolving, curated library that offers an inside look at the artistic, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual work that the Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey carry out each day for the praise and honor of God.

Hidden in the stillness of southern California’s desert mountains, St. Michael’s Abbey goes about a timeless and supernatural mission: the common worship of God. This is a place for all to encounter the unfathomable beauty of God and to enter into the mystery of His unrelenting love.

Against a culture in ever desperate need for beauty, St. Michael’s Abbey stands as a refuge for reverent liturgy, inspiring art, and captivating sacred music and chant. Through our work, we are laying the foundation for the sanctification of our society and a renewal in our Church.