Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From the Hospital

Message for Thursday, May 6, 2004

So many people have said to me how tragic my accident was, and indeed it was a serious dislocation of my life. Here in the rehabilitation program, however, I have met many people whose lives were taken further off track than mine was. I still have hope of doing my basic work. I still have my wits about me, and I have every promise of being able to get around almost as well as I did in the past. Unfortunately, you meet many people in the hospital whose lives are permanently and severely altered with spinal cord injuries, severe burns, or other incapacities that are not really treatable or curable. The rehabilitation people very bravely do the best they can, but there is only a certain amount that they can do. What this does is make you grateful to God that your disaster was not as great a catastrophe as it might have been and that the Lord still has work for you to do. That is my consolation. I severely injured my elbow in this accident when I was thrown. The elbow apparently caught the brunt of the impact. I also had a small brain injury, which cleared up right away. Had the elbow not been severely hurt, I might not be able to function mentally in a normal way at this point. How grateful to God I am for every second when I can think and speak and feel and hear. It is true that God does not cause evil, but He causes that evil should not become the worst.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

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I'll be glad when it's Wednesday. Then I can read another message from Fr. B.-Steve, Raleigh, North Carolina

Dear Father,
I think of and pray for you every day. It sounds like your doing great with your walking. I want to tell you a story. Today on my way to work, I got off the Long Island RR at Little Neck, Queens, and I saw an older man by himself with a walker taking those baby steps that you talked about the other day. This was about 9 AM, and I though how hard it must have been for him taking about three steps a minute. I felt sorry for him. Well I left work at 3:30 PM and went back to the train station and as I waited for my train on the NYC side I looked over and down the other side and all the way down was this same man again still walking 6 & 1/2 hours later. I was no longer sorry for him but was proud and envy of him. Doing what most of us take for granted. The thing that you have spoken to us over the past few weeks has opened my eyes and I am sure others. Moreover, that we should thank God for what we got and how much better off we are then others. And we should pray for them and help them in any way we can.
Thank You.
Love
Bob, Bronx, New York

Our Sincere Thanks to Grassroots for the beautiful production of "He chose to follow Jesus." What a lovely tribute to Fr. Benedict's blessed vocation! I only wish that perhaps all of the video clips presented here on the website, might be compiled into a documentary of sorts. It would then follow father from his first hello to all of us...taking us through his recovery process. My thought for father for today is this: " In acceptance there IS peace....( A Prayer )...
Lord, I don't pray that my problems may cease; I pray that your Spirit and love will give me the strength to abide in You, during adversity. amen.-Jackie, in New York

Dear Father Benedict,
Praise Be to Jesus Christ, now and forever. After listening to your message today, I sit here weeping in tears of joy, all I can say is "Thank You" and "I Love You". May God continue to strengthen and heal you.-Yvonne, Ipswich, South Dakota

Dear Fr. Benedict,
Peace and all good!I am so sorry about your accident, but God is using you for a mighty mission for His glory. A didn't know about you before the accident, but I read your words every morning knowing God has a blessing for me. The new video is powerful and filled with the Holy Spirit! It moved me to tears. I am praying for your recovery, but I pray you will still have a daily message for us over the internet. Glory to God in the highest! God bless you.-Carol, Kennebunk, Maine

Mother Angelica always taught us to be specific with our prayer intentions; therefore, we are continuing to pray for your FULL recovery. Thank you so much for the daily notes. Please thank Joe and all the young men at Grassroots. The video clips are AWESOME! What a wonderful blessing it is to hear your voice. I cannot listen to these clips without shedding tears of joy over your progress. Checking the web site has become a part of my morning routine. Please give our love to all those on the Youth 2000 NY team, Fr. Herald, Fr. Mariuz, etc. PRAISE BE JESUS CHRIST, NOW AND FOREVER. NOW AND FOREVER, PRAISE BE JESUS CHRIST.-Love, Amy & Andy, Newport Beach, California

Father B, It was so wonderful to hear your story of "the call" this morning on EWTN. I wondered if you ever revisited "the witch"!! Also it was wonderful to hear all the praises that the priest was giving you during his homily at mass on EWTN--I was hoping that you were tuned in. The video (on your website) was especially moving today---and since I'm Irish--really enjoyed the background music!! I am continually keeping you in my daily prayers at mass and my hour of adoration. It was a good reminder today to "offer up those sufferings that we encounter daily". Thank you for your spiritual wisdom.-Ruth, Omaha, New England

Dear Father Benedict--I listen to your movies almost everyday with my mom. I hope you get better soon. LOVE -THERESE, AGE 9, LAKEWOOD California

Father Benedict, I have realized now how you and your website has become an integral part of my life. Due to the computer worm that is going on my computer has shut down and here I am at the library reading your daily messages. I have missed you! Thank you for your wisdom and your honesty about the difficulties it is being "human" I pray for you daily and thanks to you I have become closer to the Holy Spirit. Thank you!-Tina, Lakewood, California

To all responsible for this website....there are not enough words to thank you. How kind you are to all of us to whom Fr.Benedict is so dear...as are in turn, all the Friars and Sisters who radiate the joy of Christ. It has kept us not only informed, but hopeful and prayerful...and not bashful about asking for miracles. Today's little Vidio is so beautiful...a little walk through the years and a summation of the message that Fr. Benedict's life has been for all of us. We hope that it will go far and wide and touch many hearts as profoundly as it has ours. You have our deepest prayerful gratitude. Wishing you all the most treasured blessings of Gods love. Sincerely,-Irene and Paul, Farmingdale, New York

I have been following your progress on the friars website daily. You seem like family to me and certainly have been a wonderful help to me in learning the faith. Thinking about the cross of your accident and long recovery, plus my own health and age crosses, made me think of what Jesus told St. Peter about his cross. He told him that when he was old, people would lead him where he didn't want to go and make him do things he didn't want to do. It helps to think of St. Peter and the fact that he faced his cross like me: scared and trying to find an out. It encourages me that eventually he listened to Jesus and became a saint. I pray we are both able to live up to St. Peter's example!!- Lynn, Chandler, Arizona

Fr. Benedict: I miss not seeing you on EWTN. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I just wanted to tell you "Thank You" for the many, many hours of enjoyment and education that you have given to me. Please get well soon. Who knows, maybe one day I will have the honor of meeting you. God Bless you Fr. Benedict,-Stephanie, Pennsauken, New Jersey

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