October 5, 2025, Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10
Several years ago, I applied for a position at a prestigious firm, even though I didn’t meet all the qualifications they required. After three months of staying in touch with the company, I told the staff member assisting me that I was eager and willing to learn any new skills necessary for the role. Thanks to my persistence and determination, I was eventually offered the job. However, the key virtue that truly helped me was faith—I believed I would get the position. Throughout the process, I kept praying for confidence. That faith and hard work paid off, and I went on to work for the firm for seven years.
The theme for this Sunday is faith and trust in God’s especially during difficulties. Even in the smallest form, faith allows us to live out God’s will through humble service and patience endurance.
#143-181 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses “faith” at length. These paragraphs detail what faith is, its characteristics, and how it is lived out. I hope that you have a copy of the Catechism which you can locate on the Web.
So, when one’s going gets rough its good to reflect on this Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm:
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
Here at the Monastery, we are praying for the upcoming election of the Prioress, which will take place this month on October 13, 14, and 15. This marks the first time we will hold an election, as our three previous Prioresses were appointed rather than elected. In the spirit of St. Benedict of Nursia, the Prioress serves as the Superior, holding the place of Christ within the monastery. She guides the nuns with discretion, zeal, and charity, fostering their obedience to God. The Superior also bears the important responsibility of maintaining discipline within our community. We humbly ask for your prayers during this significant time. Wishing you a wonderful week. God bless you, SK
A prayer for the election of a prioress (Oct 13,14,15, 2025)
O God, source of all wisdom and good counsel, we turn to you in faith as Our Lady of the Desert prepares to choose a new prioress. Send forth your Holy Spirit to guide and enlighten the hearts and minds of the electors. May their choice reflect your love and bring forth a prioress who is humble and compassionate, wise and just, and devoted to the common good. May she be a true spiritual mother to her sisters, dedicated to a life of prayer and service; we ask through Christ Our Lord. Amen. St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, pray for us!
Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms
The motto
Pope Leo XIV has also chosen a motto that reflects this Augustinian tradition: In Illo uno unum, which means “In the One, we are one.”
The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV – Intentions for the month of September 2025: Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for September 2025 is for “our relationship with all of creation. In this month’s Pope Video, the Holy Father invites us to pray that “inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.”
“BE DOERS OF THE WORD,” by Bishop James S. Wall, Bishop of the Gallup diocese 2024: “Most Rev. James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup discusses his special connection to the diocese and his experience as bishop in this unique diocese. Bishop Wall also talks about how the Catholic Home Missions Appeal helps provide the faithful of his diocese with the most basic things and why contributing to the Collection is so important. Bishop Wall’s diocese also has the highest percentage of Native American lands of any diocese in the country, he briefly discusses how the Church can minister to Native Americans through the Pastoral Framework for Indigenous Ministry “Keeping Christ’s Sacred Promise”.
MISSION STATEMENT –The Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert is a monastic community of women in the Benedictine tradition. We profess vows of stability, conversion of life and obedience. Our primary mission, is to seek God through a life of prayer, silence and solitude. Our way of life frees us to give glory and praise to God, intercede through prayer for the needs of the world and hospitality