Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,
From the Hospital
Message for Saturday, May 15, 2004
It’s amazing that when you are in the hospital and rather badly
hurt, you think that the rest of the world has it easy. The odd thing is that
I speak to people who are not in the hospital, who have not had serious injuries,
and they often have what appears to be worse problems. They would trade places
with you in a minute, or at least they think so. This means, in fact, that we
all have crosses to carry and that at certain times one cross can be heavier
than others. We all sometimes feel sorry for ourselves, but when we hear of
other people’s troubles, we should share our compassion with them. One
of the things about being quite sick and wounded is that you begin to recognize
that the rest of the world is much in the same situation and those who are not
will be eventually. This is why our ultimate hope and trust must be in God and
in Christ, His crucified Son.
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Fr. Benedict: I am a 49 year old new convert. I was received into the Catholic Church Easter Vigil 2004. During my RCIA, I was battling serious side effects from treatment of a grave illness. Through the prayers of many Catholic mentors, I made it. My prayers are with you. I thank you for your commitment to Christ; it has been the tool by which my mentors guided me to Jesus. God bless you. - Sheila, Vineland, New Jersey
Dear Fr. Benedict,
Peace to you and all good. I want to assure you I am praying for you. You are
one of my favorite writers. Just now I am reading your book on prayer and listening.
It is very helpful. Years ago, you came and talked with our community in our
recreation room while you were here giving retreat conferences to the priests
of the Vancouver archdiocese. I hope you get up this way again someday ! I read
the interview the National Catholic Register did with you and that inspired
me to write you. I am glad this web site makes it easy to write to you. Please
pray for me and for our community. I am very concered about some of the decisions
our government is making and want to start writing to politicians to tell them
about this. Please pray for me that I will keep my resolve and find the words.
And I must remember to pray for them too. that is the most important thing.
God bless and keep you. Regards to Br. Christian Marie Oppe, one of our former
seminarians who has joined your order. - Br. Luke, Canada
Dear Father Groeschel,
I hope you are feeling better. My family and I have been praying for your full
recovery. We miss your live talks but
fortunately we have you on tape. On May 19, 2004 I am receiving the Sacrament
of Confirmation at the Church of the Visitation. I have chosen Saint Benedict
Joseph Labre as my confirmation name. You and Saint Benedict Labre are great
role models. Get well soon. - Kevin, Bronx, NY
I am a born-again Christian and an active member of a non-denominational church near my home. I've seen you a couple of times on EWTN when my cable company offered it. I only recently heard of your accident through my insurance agent. She started sending me print outs of your messages. Praise God, I am recovering from a rare illness of my spinal cord that threatened my life. I have found your messages so inspiring and so full of love. I needed to write you to thank you for them. I have identified so much with the rehab, the slow progress, and appreciate so much your encouraging words. Please know that your testimony of faith in our precious Lord Jesus touches lives across denominations. Isn't that wonderful? I am thankful to God for using you in this way and pray that my illness and subsequent complete recovery from the shadow of death will uplift and encourage someone else someday as yours has mine. May God bless you and continue His divine healing in your life. - Yve, Norwalk, Cinncinatti
Hello to Father Benedict...A lady named Maureen from Webster, N.Y., had a great suggestion. She mentioned your Rosary tapes! I will order them right after I send this message...What better way to pray? Take a walk WITH father, while praying the Our Father, and the many precious Hail Mary's! byebye for now...time to order those tapes...much love, many prayers, - Jackie, Batavia, New York
Dear Fr. Benedict, The prayers for a complete recovery continue from the friars at the Solanus Center in Detroit. They are praying for you four times a day. Through the powerful intercession of Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey--may your right arm regain full use. Thank you for being such a great inspiration to all of us. At the time of your accident, I was recovering from a surgery that occured in November and I was homebound for four months due to an infection. I could not even attend Christmas Mass--and it was so hard to be away from the Mass. Watching it on tv just is not the same. Your book "Arise From the Darkness" was a great source of inspiration. I thank God daily that you are able to continue to enlighten us with your wisdom because the world needs powerful examples of faith--and you are definitely a beacon of hope for many. May you heal under the watchful eye of our Blessed Mother. - Lisa, Howell, Missouri
Dear Father: Because of YOU and EWTN and the Holy Spirit I was converted
and baptized with my six year old son at the Easter Vigil. I am 49 years old.
With your prayers perhaps my daughter, now 18, will come to the Catholic Church.
So you see how important you are to my family. Please get well soon, our prayers
are with you. - James, Denver, Colorado
