Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From the Hospital

Message for Wednsday, May 12, 2004

Last year I published a book called The Rosary: Chain of Hope. Little did I realize that the Rosary would be my chain of hope this year. When things are going badly or when the darkness of it all settles in on me, I turn to the Rosary. I made a Rosary retreat during the first month of my consciousness while I was on the respirator. It kept me going. I wish I could convince everyone to try the Rosary. Naturally when you first get started, it seems to be boring and repetitive, but if you turn your mind to the mysteries, you will see that it is a great blessing and a great school of spirituality. The Rosary is recommended to us by Our Lady herself and by the saints. I can only tell you that I don’t know where I would be right now if it were not for the Rosary.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

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Dear Father Groeschel. Every day I keep you in my prayers. I play the CD with you doing the Rosary devotion and pray along with you. I will always remember when you came to Napa, California 2 years ago and spoke on the subject of abortion. You changed so many hearts. I brought quite a number of women who I know were pro choice and you changed them with your message. I hope that you recover and will be in Larchmount, N.Y. this coming Thanksgiving as we travel every year for the Thanksgiving Holiday and your visit to the church in Larchmont is a highlight for us. We will keep you in our prayers. -Ruth,Sonoma, California

Dear Fr. Benedict, I had the good fortune to hear you speak at the Magificat conference in the Fall of 2002 and was deeply moved then and now by your compelling presentation about God in the Eucharist. I vividly remember your ending about "a real God," and have been receiving Holy Communion several times a week since then. Get well soon. We need you and love you. From.-Frank, Doylestown, Penn.

Dear Father Benedict, We are so joyful that you are doing so much better. I have tried to send you a greeting each month since your accident but please know that you are in my prayers every day. I check in on you daily at this site, thank God for all of the wonderful people who make this possible. When this happened to you I think it caused me to contemplate once again that bad things do happen to good people and it is in how we respond and accept that we grow closer to our loving Father. Your grace of abandonment to Gods will and your capacity to love and forgive have always been an inspiration to me. By the way you have my Grandmothers eyes, she was a tough little Irish lady with a faith and trust in our Lord that was unshakeable. She had those beautiful, wise, loving eyes that made you want to know what she knew that brought her such peace in all the turmoil. Continue to heal in Gods precious arms and know that you are loved and prayed for every day.-Teresa,Seminole, Florida

Dear Father , When I am sitting on my pitty pot, I come to the computer and read one of your messages and hear your voice. It is as if the Holy Spirit sends a bolt through my being. How blessed we are to hear your voice again! I have such faith in God and His Mercy!! You are so loved and prayer changes all. Thank you for your messages and the unbelieveable suffering you are going through. God's Light, through Jesus, is beaming through to us all. Love from us all here in Colorado. We love you!!!!!!!!-Elaine, Colorado Springs

Dear Father Benedict, The new video is so beautiful! As I watch you walking down the street with the palm branches in your hand, I see Jesus searching for each one of us individually - offering us His love and mercy. Thank you Father for showing us the way as we too choose to follow Jesus.-Geri, Cumberland, Rhode Island

Dear Fr. Benedict,
I hope today is a good one for you and that your recovery is progressing well. To illustrate what a service this site is: I have been praying for some time for a greater love and understanding of the Eucharist. Being somewhat thick of mind and heart, the reality and awesomeness of it just wasn't penetrating. I'd hear others speak of their love and devotion to the Eucharist and I'd feel like I was missing something. Then one morning while reading the e-mails to you, I came upon one from Charlotte in Iowa--she talked of her daughter making her first Holy Communion and how the little girl said she wouldn't have to be "left in the pew" anymore. That was it. I don't know what it was about that phrase, but it was so beautiful in it's simplicity, that it got through the layers around my heart and somehow I understood what a gift it is to be able to receive the Lord. A gift I had been taking for granted. I realized I'd been "left in the pew" for a long time. I hope this is the start of a deepening love for Jesus in the Eucharist. And it's the result of this site. My thanks to Charlotte for sharing that story. And I hope you know that your suffering has not been in vain. With love and prayers,-Mary, Jersey City

Dear Fr. Groeschel, How blessed you are that our Lord has given you the opportunity to share his suffering on the cross. Just as he brought grace to those who saw him suffer so you also have brought grace through your suffering... God Bless you for your example of Love... -Karen, Livonia, Michigan

Father Groeschel, It is true that God has granted many graces through your suffering, and you still remain so humble. The night before your accident, I watched you on EWTN (which is rare - it is usually my husband who watches). The next morning my husband called from work to inform me of your accident, and my life has not been the same since. Two weeks after your accident, I felt this unrelenting need to write "my story". I sat down and started writing that day, and didn't stop for several days. It is the first time that I have ever been so sure of God's love and mercy, and the first time I have ever had enough courage to face my past. In fact, your talk on Courage helped me tremendously. I know this is just the beginning of God's plan for me, and I know that I will need to have courage to go forward, and I thank God for using you to open my heart to Him. As always, my family will continue to pray for your recovery, and we will continue to keep the friars, sisters, and young men at Grassroots in our paryers.-Ramona, Orlando, Florida

Father: I don't check in everyday- but I did want to say "kudos" to the people that are producing the videos/background music--it is so moving!! What I've loved about you over the years is "the truth" you pull no punches!! Mother Angelica, Father Corapi, and you--all in a special class together==you wake us up--I feel so privileged to have met you a couple times here in Nebraska--I hope you will make that journey again.....You see, God was not ready for you to "retire" so soon-there's more work to do-you're getting a rest before its time to get busy again! Continual prayers for your complete recovery.-Ruth, Omaha, New England

Dear Father Benedict,
Your message and the video segment shown today moved me to reverence and awe - I know I'll go to Holy Mass during the week more often (in lieu of sleeping in). Thank you Father. Thank God for a faithful Apostle like you.
Peace & Good,
-Fred, SFO, Vero Beach, Florida

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