Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From the Hospital

Message for Friday, May 14, 2004

One of the most important parts of old Catholic piety was joining one’s life with the life of Christ in the sacrifice of the Mass. We did this by what was called the morning offering. If you’ve ever been ill for a long time or in the hospital after a serious accident, you know that the early morning hours are very difficult. It’s when you wake up and you find out you can’t move or you’ve been in a hospital bed for weeks. It’s when reality sets in after the quiet repose of sleep. This is the time to make the morning offering, to unite yourself with Christ. If you face some trial, or challenge, or crisis in your life, chances are it will be waiting for you mentally in the morning as soon as you get up. The answer is to do something. Don’t lie in bed feeling more and more miserable, because that covers the day with depression. Immediately turn to God and offer up your life and your sufferings in union with Christ. Even if this is not your kind of piety, you’ll be very surprised to see how effective it is in organizing the day and avoiding wasted suffering.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

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Dear Benedict,
Your daily messages are a BLESSING. I see you are practicing so well what you have taught me so well: to ask always "What am I supposed to learn from his?"
I remember you each day in prayer and look forward to seeing you soon.
I recall that when talking to you on the phone, you said that the facility where you are at present allows visitors only on the weekend. After the middle of June, I should be in the N.Y. City area. I'll call. In the meantime, I pray for restoration of your right arm and leg. Love in the Lord Jesus,-Janet, Tampa, Florida

Peace be with you! Thank you for your powerful witness
to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. We here at EWTN continue
to pray for you. We love you. Father, you are truly a beautiful Monstrance radiating Jesus' Sacrificial Love, Peace and Joy. We offer our little sacrifices to our
Blessed Mother as added flowers to the Crown we wish to offer Jesus, in your name, for your complete recovery.
May our Blessed Mother place her mantle around you. May she protect and guide you always to the Eucharistic and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. God Bless you-Robert, Irondale, Alabama

Dear Father Benedict, I feel guilty that I'm not from Botswana, just a plain American, and these days we feel more plain than usual. Being disabled or in a state of suffering brings out the pains of others. After many years of misdiagnosis and being told that perhaps I was "mentally ill," I have finally been diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, a condition with a lot of pain and fatigue that others can't see. It hurts more that others think I'm doing great, but it gives me something to offer for you, thank God. I converted to Catholicism from Unitarian/Universalist in 1974, a time of poor catechesis. I have never felt comfortable with the ruffles and frills of traditional Catholic prayer, but a simple "take my pain and do what you want with it, Lord," seems to work wonders. If your recovery is slow or incomplete, it can only be your own desire that all of this prayer go for those many unknown sufferers who have no one to pray for them. You see, we're on to you. God bless you---Kris, Baltimore, Maryland

Fr. Benedict, As a young boy Archbiship Sheen was my favorite presenter, now in my maturity I love to listen to you. Looking forward to more shows on EWTN in the future.Your Brother In Christ,-Norm, Farmington, New York

Dear Fr. Benedict, A friend gave me your tapes saying the Rosary. Up to this time I prayed the Rosary in the car with the Pope in Latin. Now I pray with your tape because I love the meditation and the musical accompaniment. It also reminds me to pray for you and to think of all the wonderful teaching you and the friars have done and are still doing. Thank you so much for keeping up these daily messages. Love,-Maureen, Webster, New York

Dear Fr. Groeschel,
I was just thinking about you today and said a prayer as I walked around the Shrine of the Little Flower in Michigan and thought about how you gave such a wonderful lecture and afterwards blessed my Irish medal. You were the best speaker I had ever heard- and I will be praying for you-John, Troy, Missouri

Dear Fr. B-
It is so wonderful to see how well you are recovering...heaven was really taken by storm with all our prayers. With the many trials we have at work right now, it is so comforting to read your messages at night. While we pray for you often, we ask that you pray for us too... us...we know YOUR prayers will reach the right ears!!!! Please continue to get better, we're expecting to see you in Kearney next year!-Sue and Mike, New Jersey

Fr. Groeschel
You are in our prayers for a total recovery if that's God will for you. We watch you on EWTN, and have enjoyed many of your books. God Bless you.-Jackie & Joe, Westerly, Rhode Island

Dear Father,
You are always a teacher! You have always used all that is in your life to bring us closer to God, and even now, from a hospital bed, you are still showing us the way. We thank and praise God for you and we pray for your continued recovery!-Maggie, Roanoke, Virginia

A simple get well soon, you are a voice of common sense, please continue.-Michael, Pasadena, California

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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