Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From Trinity Retreat

Thursday, May 27, 2004

In recent years there has been much down playing of Purgatory. Years ago people prayed frequently and fervently for the holy souls in Purgatory. They had Masses offered for their dear ones who had died. I remember one time hearing the amount of money donated for Masses on the 54th anniversary of someone’s death. Apparently some of the person’s relatives were still having Masses offered for him. Purgatory has been given a bad name. St. Catherine of Genoa says that the joy of the holy souls is exceeded only by the joy of the saints in heaven, but those in Purgatory have their sufferings. When I was in the dark times, unable to speak or eat or even to have a drop of water, I thought much about Purgatory, and I’ll never joke about it again.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict
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Please let Father Benedict know that we here at the Church of the Assumption in Peekskill, have prayed for his recovery at every Sunday Mass since his accident. We are thankful to God for his recovery and to hear he has returned to Trinity Retreat. We will continue to pray for his complete recovery and for the intentions of all of the Friars and their associates. May God bless all of you. Peace, - Fr. Steven, Peekskill

Best News, Wonderful - God bless Fr. Benedict and all his colleagues and carers - Mary, Ireland

Many thanks for your thoughtful note. Fr. Benedict and the intentions of
the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal remain in the thoughts and prayers of all of us here at St. Augustines Seminary of Toronto. Best wishes to you for the continued success of your important ministry. Pax Christi. - Fr. Robert,

Dear Father Groeschel, Thank you for the remembrance of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. I forget them too easily. And my children and I owe our lives to them. My maternal grandmother used to end every day by going around her Brooklyn apartment and kissing all the photographs of my grandfather and of all her children and grandchildren and other family members before going to bed. That memory is still a treasure for me. You should have seen her root for the "good guy" when she watched the old western television shows!! I'm sure she had, and still has, a powerful left hook! No one messes with those little Italian grandmothers! With much gratitude. Let us continue to pray for each other! - Met, Mclean, Virginia

Dear Father Benedict,
Lord have mercy. We continue to pray for your recovery and hope that you are doing well. The souls in purgatory were a "mini mission" for our Confirmation class. We prayed for them at class and they were instructed to continue to pray during the week. The idea was to begin a life long habit of including them in their daily prayers. My grandmother was very good at praying for the dead, and as a little girl I remember sitting with her as she said those prayers. Sometimes during the day, I will stop and say a Hail Mary for a soul that needs just one more prayer to enter heaven. I have followed Mother Angelica's rosary and adopted the habit of saying a prayer for the departed at the end of my rosary, also. I can't help but feel that there are many watching over myself and my family that I may have never met but needed our prayers. May God bless and keep you.- Charlotte, Chariton, Iowa

Good Morning Fr. Benedict- Greetings from Jersey City!
So happy to hear your voice in this internet world of ours:-) God is really good to us, our prayers are answered without hesitation. See, Blessed Mother Teresa-your girl friend in heaven, (i used to tease you)keep on praying for you and the rest of us here in jersey city. since you have this accident, never a day pass by without asking her help from above... Fr. Benedict please pray for our nephew, too Benjamin Smith especially tonight @7:00PM for healing from leukemia. also his friend Merrill. thanks and GOD bless YOU! lovingly, - Hermie, Jersey City, New Jersey

Dear Fr.Benedict, We wish to you every good with your health.The Eternal Father gives to you the peace and the Good. We pray for you God Bless you Pax et Bonum Rev.Fr.George Papathanasiou MSSB Superior for Europe - Gen.Vicar Philippiensis,

Dear Fr. Benedict, The other night my daughter, Kirsten, started to scream from her bedroom. "COME! COME QUICKLY!!" Needless to say, Kirsten was watching a video taped message from you that was being shown on EWTN. Our entire family watched and listened with tears streaming down our faces. Over and over my husband said, "Praise God". We have been continuously praying for your recovery and we are so very happy to see you doing so well! We send you our love and continued prayers for a complete recovery. Your friends, - Frank, Elaine, Kirsten, Keren, Matthew, Angel, and Eliana,

Dear Fr. Benedict, Through the years, in my search for God, I had the priviledge of attending some retreats for lay people at Trinity Retreat House. It was there in Oct. 1997, that I learned the Holy Eucharist is the living Lord, and it was there in February of 1998, that I began a strong devotion to Our Lady. This has taken root in my life and changed me and our family completely. I am so grateful. Whenever I knelt before the beautiful Tabernacle in the Trinity Chapel, I have prayed for you. I am so grateful to God for you. You have such great patience with slow learners like myself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you dearly. Love in Our Lady, - Joanie,. Roanoke Rapids, North California

Praise be to GOD for the continuing health improvements of Fr. Benedict. Thank you for this update. Please give my love, thoughts and prayers to Father. It is wonderful to share in his progress. May God continue to hold Father close to his heart and Mary shelter him with her mantle. Much love and happiness over this news. - Mary :)

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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