Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,
From Trinity Retreat
Friday, June 4, 2004
People come to visit the sick, but they sometimes forget
what they are actually doing. The most important thing to remember is that they
are sick; they are not relating to you as they ordinarily would. I think it’s
very important when you visit the sick to be gentle, quiet, and let the sick
people lead the conversation if they are capable. I have often noticed that
people came to me and spent a great deal of time talking about their own troubles
or the problems of their lives. This is not a good thing to do with a sick person
who is already trying to cope with a problem that may be beyond him.
When you visit the sick, try to make them more cheerful, take their mind off
their troubles and do not add your troubles to theirs. Visiting the sick is
not like visiting anybody else. It is probably helpful to remember that behind
the face of the sick person is the face of Jesus.
Let us continue to pray for each other!
Father Benedict
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Fr. Benedict...it is so wonderful to see you giving advice and spiritual guidance through the internet. I read your messages every day. I am looking forward to your suggestions on visiting the sick.Who better than you can advise us. God bless you and continue to strengthen you. - Carol, Madison, New Jersey
Dear Father Benedict, You are getting to be a daily habit. I check on you every day, and every day I learn from you..Thank God for your continuous impovement. I think you have started a good thing in visiting the sick and shut-in. The Holy Spirit is certainly working in you. God bless You. - Connie, Hudson, Florida
You are in my prayers and I check your email messages and view the video of you each day. Your wounds on your head look like you were wearing the crown of thorns. You have participated in the passion. Thank you for all your spiritual guidance now and over the years. Praise be to God. - Madeleine, Sparta, New Jersey
Dearest Fr. Benedict, I'm so happy to know that you are back at Trinity, your home and very much my home and many fond rememberances of my visits there. Continued prayers go your way. I thank God He has brought you this far in the healing process. Please pray for Agnes a Young lady who works for us, who has been diagnosed with cancer. - Mary, Dublin, Ireland
Dear Father Groeschel, I am a member of the Oratory of Divine Love in New Orleans, and in addition to continually praying for your recovery, I read your daily messages with great joy. But, I find myself going back on a daily basis and listening to your Holy Spirit prayer in the Grassroots segment entitled "He Chose to Follow Jesus" and immediately I am called to enter into this beautiful experience not only with myself, but also in mind, heart, and soul with my husband, and with our 18-year-old son, who I hope will choose to follow Jesus. Please keep him in your prayers, Thank you and God Bless. - Ricouard, Metairie, Los Angelas
Dear Fr. Groeschel, Ever since the middle of January, I have been reading first the messages of your fight to recover from your accident, and then your messages which have been inspirational and very helpful. Especially interesting to me are the messages sent to you from all over the world. They too have been inspirational in a great many cases. Each day since your accident, you have been in my prayers and I do hope and pray you will be able to get more movement in your right arm. May God and the Holy Spirit continue to bless and guide you. Thank you so very much for your messages. - Annamay, San Antonio, Texas
Fr. Benedict, How precious life is. I last saw you and spoke with you the day of your accident. It was the morning at the Paso Robles conference. You told me much about Fr. Baker, as I told you that he "raised" my grandfather at his orphange. Therefore, I want you to know that I prayed to Fr. Baker to grant you the miracle of life. I hope this helps. Much love, - Donna Mary, Phoenix, Arizona
Dear Father Groeschel, When I was reading your message about being surprised at how much sleep you needed, it reminded me of an old saying of my grandmother's, " If you didn't need it, you wouldn't need to do it." I'm not a doctor but I know that when the body is at rest, that's when it heals itself because all the healing energy goes into once place, the getting better place. Be patient with yourself. Love in Christ, - Mary Susan, North Tonawanda, New York
Dear Father Benedict, Each time we stand by His great mercy at the Holy Altar, we remember you by name (Hieromonk Benedict) and ask the Lord to continue what He has begun in you: the process of making a great Saint! May you continue to do well physically, but remember always---as long as you can think and speak, you can share with the rest of us and that will be an ENORMOUS gift! In His Holy Name, +Archimandrite Gregory & the Brothers with me. - Father Archimandrite Gregory, Milford, Conn.
Fr. Benedict: Praise God! You are home! I appreciate so much your faithfulness to your "daily visitors". I hope you never discontinue your messages to us even when you think we have heard enough...we could never hear enough of your words of wisdom. It is so inspiring how you are always asking us to become more aware of those around us who are hurting, not only physically but emotionally and/or spiritually. You never forget THE LEAST, THE LOST or THE LAST. That is what I love about you the most. - Richmond, Kentucky
