Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From Trinity Retreat

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

We all want to be generous. Christians in the United States and Americans in general like to be generous. We like to do things for others. It was part of our tradition. One of the groups of people we should never forget are the holy souls in Purgatory. They are in a certain sense already in heaven. They are on the road, but they have not yet taken their final place because of personal, moral, and spiritual defects and also because God’s justice requires that they pay what is called the temporal punishment due to sin. This does not imply in any way that Christ did not redeem them or pay the full price for their redemption. Since the earliest times Christians have prayed for the holy souls, long before the term Purgatory was ever coined.
Do you remember the holy souls? Do you pause with affection and concern in the evening to pray for your own dear dead, and do you remember those who are dead a long time, but who may still be awaiting the spiritual assistance we can give them?

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict
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Dear Father Benedict, I join the many people who love you and have prayed for you in thanking GOD for sparing you and for continuing to heal you. Thank you Father for the many great works you do for his Kingdom and his people. Love, - Ray, Ronkonkoma, New York

Dear Fr. Benedict, How wonderful to know you are home at last. Praise be to Jesus! It has been a very long journey for you and we all tried to walk it with you, in prayer. This is the second message in which you mentioned God must have something more for you to do for you to have survived. You ask us to pray that you will know what it is and that you will do it well.

Dear Father, I do not pretend to know God's plan for you but I feel I know at least a piece of it. You are still here, partly, because of all us little ones that need you so much to help us on our walk with Jesus. You have always done this so well and I know you will continue to do so. Your light still shines brilliantly and is a guide for us all. I continue to pray in thanksgiving, for continued healing and for your discernment as you carry on. With much love and prayers, - Maria, Everett, Mass.

Dear Fr. Ben, Just a quick note to let you know that now that you are home does not mean you will be forgotten. You will be in my daily prayers to continue to heal and gain the rest of your strength. Meanwhile enjoy the view and the quiet time with the Lord you haven't had that pleasure as you were always in the marketplace now He has you where He wants you to meditate and listen so you can come out full force in the process of renewal for all of us. Take care my friend we all need the Rudder to get well and help us stear the ship in the right direction . God Bless from one Celtic soul to another - Cathy, Baldwinsville, New York

Dear Father Benedict, I am thrilled to the soul of ALL the GOOD People who write you, aren't you? You see how your messages throughout the years have really made an impact on us. I feel faith in God is growing in this country, perhaps we are not HEARD as readily as the opposite, but love for our fellow man IS growing. Just don't listen to the news! I also thank Dear Mother Angelica for getting out these wonderful programs for us to hear and see. Honestly, as a 70 year old widowed woman, I would be lost without EWTN. I am so happy you are in your home, Thank You Jesus for Your mercy to us to allow us to have you with us, spreading His messages to all. When God wants you to know what new ministry He wants of you, He will tell you, but never underestimate what wonderful good you do for so many, with what you have done in the past and still are doing with your daily messages. Just read those many messages to you, they are from the heart. God Bless you and all of the Priests you live with. P.S Maybe you should go into politics! Isn't that a grand thought! - Grace, Eustis, Florida

Dear Fr. Groeschel, I am glad to learn that you are back now at Trinity Retreat. A million thanks to God for everything He had been accomplishing in our lives. God indeed works in mysterious ways. Father, you are in our prayers here at Corpus Christi Monastery, Bronx NY. I hope you could come again for your usual visit with the other friars. God bless us always.
With prayers, Sr. Mary Christine, O.P.

Please be assured of my prayers. Thank you for all you have done for so many of us in the midst of all your suffering. I think that for a while when you were on the respirator all of us here at 1011 were taking deeper breaths and asking the Lord to transfer them to you. God love you! - Anita, New York, NY

Dear Fr. Groeschel: I'm so grateful that you're back at Trinity! Len's letter mentioned today that, "there's no place like home." Now, you can click your heels together (in your sandals and habit of course) and say, "There's no place like home!" I know that your recovery has not been "a picnic", however, because of your accident, we are all blessed to have these daily updates and mediatations from you. God always brings something good out of suffering. Just think, if this accident had happened to just any poor schmuck out there, we wouldn't have the daily blessings from you! I know one day when you arrive to your permanent home, God will say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant." God bless you, all the Friars, Sisters, and assistants. Sincerely, - Sally,Stamford, Connecticut

Thank the Lord that you will continue to be with us, In regards to your latest message I am off to sign up to do whatever I can to help with the seniors who live alone & are unable to get out of the home. God Bless. - Bill, Inverness, Florida

Dear Father Benedict, Thank you for being that "voice crying in the wilderness" for the elderly especially and others who are homebound, hospitalized and ignored and/or rejected by those of us who should be loving them with our little visits, cards and flowers. I wonder how they stand this modern world with speed emails, fedex and all. It is amazing how people disappear from one's life when someone is ill. I believe the elderly esp. feel as though they're invisible because they can't keep up the fast pace of a conversation even by those who do visit them! Thank you for not for- getting those dear hearts who are so closed off from a life they'd love to join. God bless you for your dear heart! I'll remember your words, Father. - Joni, tewksbury, Mass.

Dear Father Groeschel, Greetings from Susan and The Holy Souls! I want to share with you that the new CD/TAPE you produced: PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION FOR THE HOLY SOULS was rated "Exceptional" by the News Service for the 500 Publishing Companies in the country! We are thrilled! It has been doing VERY well! How happy you have made our dear suffering friends! I told them they owe you BIG TIME for your work and to HEAL you quickly! I prayed for you at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes with Bernadette kneeling in front of Our Lady! The birds sang and sang while I prayed for you! So, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for making the new tape for the Holy Souls! It is MANIFICENT! The souls will have you back on your feet before you can say "Purgatory!" In the Souls, - Susan, Chicago, Illinois

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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