This church, built in 1935, replacing an older one that burned in 1860. The church anchors the main plaza of Abiquiu, New Mexico. Abiquiú means "wild choke cherry place" in the Tewa language. The community is also called Santo Tomas de Abiquiú and the Pueblo of Santo Tomas de Abiquiú.
Crosses in the Mission Ruins
We came across this wonderful spanish ruin while hiking on the Withers Canyon Trail in the Comanche National Grasslands. It is very rewarding to find these jewels of American Western History in Colorado while exploring our wonderful state. This section of the hiking trail was once part of the Santa Fe Trail and this ancient mission was a site where the spaniards worked to convert the local indians to catholicism.
New Mexican Pueblo Graveyard
A pueblo is a unique place. The history is overwhelming when you walk past the graveyard filled with hundreds of years of souls. Makes you imagine what colorful characters were buried there?
Crosses Hanging at a Shrine in Chimayo
A photo of a shrine which had crosses that pilgrims placed in front of a small mural at El Santuario de Chimayó, a Catholic church in Chimayó, New Mexico. The sanctuary is famous for the story of its founding and as a contemporary pilgrimage site. It receives almost 300,000 visitors per year and many believe it to be the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States.
The Cross in the Desert
I went to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This benedictine monastic grounds is near Abiquiu, New Mexico which has a Abbey on the banks of the Chama River. I walked and meditated at this monastery and sauntered through the grounds. The scenery and extreme quiet was very appealing to me. This cross was below the large cliffs that arise above this compound.
Mission Catholic Cross
I visited the Benedictine Abbey of Christ in the Desert in Northern New Mexico. I meditated and explored myself in introspection on a beautiful morning at this wonderful place. Everyone is welcome and the place is so very peaceful. I walked the grounds and captured many images of the figures that fascinated me. This photo is of one of the crosses at a meditation shrine… just wonderful.