FAITH IN THE DESERT
Story and photographs by Catherine Carter MDiv, PhD
The Norbertine Order has been in existence for more than 900 years, making it the fifth oldest Roman Catholic religious order in the world. In Albuquerque, the Abbey, known as Santa Maria de la Vid, is the newest abbey in the Americas. The men who reside here understand their mission as “the witnessing to the reality and power of a Christian faith community by living a simple, communal life according to the Rule of Augustine and the ancient traditions of the Order of Prémontré.” The images that follow look at the sacred space that has been created by the abbey members. The space is freely made available to anyone who wishes to worship God, pray to Him, or meditate about Him.(https://norbertinecommunity.org/)
AIDS TO WORSHIP
There are a number of aids to worship and prayer on the grounds of the community.
ICONS
This painting is an icon , a religious painting that emulates an important spiritual figure, Jesus in this case. Production of icons is a very old practice, dating to as early as the 3rd century C.E.. Icons are used to help the Christian meditate and pray.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
The Stations of the Cross is a series of fourteen stops that mark the path followed by Jesus on the day of his crucifixion. The stations echo the sites on the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Sorrow) in Jerusalem and are intended to help Christians make a virtual spiritual pilgrimage of the sites along the Way. These images represent three of the stations in the Community.
LABYRINTH
A labyrinth is a place of ritual, of motion. It waits for a person to walk in its pathways and gives the walker the time and space to consider whatever might lie on his or her heart. The presence of a labyrinth marks its place in the landscape as holy ground.
SCULPTURE
Bronze statues in the Gathering Space remember important biblical figures and encourage worshippers to think about the roles that the sculpted figures played in the Biblical story.
John the Baptist
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Matthew 3:3-1
Mary Magdalene
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:1. 11, 17.
Madonna & Child
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, Luke 2:4-7.
THE GATHERING SPACE
The Gathering Space is the center of communal life in the community. The art and architecture of the space is a study in symbolism and modern art. The arches rise to heaven and then bring heaven back down to earth.
THE ALTAR
The altar is the centerpiece of the Gathering Space, as it is for any church. It is the holiest of spaces because it is here that prayers are offered and that communion is served.
Día de los Muertos Ofrenda
In the area just outside the Gathering Space the Abbey honors the Spanish tradition, popular in New Mexico, of the Day of the Dead. This ofrenda ( altar) is a beautiful way to honor and celebrate the memories of loved ones who have died. The photos are of brothers who have passed.
AT THE END OF THE DAY
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. Matthew 27:50
