Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,
From
Trinity Retreat
Tuesday, June 8, 2004
Since my return to Trinity Retreat I’ve been very aware of the
Holy Souls in Purgatory, since I practically went there myself on two or three
occasions. When I think how long it has taken me to recover, I recall that I
should at this point be one of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Purgatory, as I
mentioned previously, is not a lot of fun. We run into ourselves, we see ourselves
as we truly are. I got a short taste of this during my month of convalescence,
when I was not able to speak or eat or drink. It should make us compassionate
toward the Holy Souls.
We all know people who have passed from this life who were good people but not
saints. We often say too easily, Oh, they went straight to heaven. How do we
know? It seems to me that we ought to pray seriously everyday and offer some
of our prayers and sufferings for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. This was a very
powerful Catholic devotion in the past, and it should be today also. It is still
a great work of charity to pray for the dead.
Let us continue to pray for each other!
Father Benedict
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Good morning Fr. Benedict! Many people think the sick and elderly have nothing to say, I think they are the only people we should listen to! Hang in there! Praying for your arm every single day! Everything else on you also! Love - Marie, Wilton, Maine
Hello and God bless you! Thank you for your good work. I recently purchased the new video 'A Reason to Believe'. It is wonderful and I plan to share it with others. Now, as I was watching it, I saw its fruits right before my eyes! My husband came into the room and began to watch it with me (though I told him that he could turn the TV back to the basketball game he had wanted to watch, he declined). Now it was in the 4th segment and Father had just mentioned how his youth was deeply affected by the mistreatment of Afro-Americans in our country. He soon mentioned that one must realize that to be Christian is to tend to the poor and that you must get a Bible and read Matthew (the beatitudes) and then read the 25th chapter of the Gospel of St. John. Now my husband immediately jumped up and retrieved my bible and said, very matter of factly, that he was going to do just that! Thank you, Father Benedict! Now here is where a bit of mystery came in... you see, my husband could not find a chapter 25 in the Gospel of John. I looked in my Ignatiaus Bible and could not find it either : ) So, could you please help us... did we not understand what Father said? (I replayed that section of the tape many times, but it always sounded to my ears like 'the 25th chapter'). Anyway, I know that God works in mysterious ways and so I will trust that His will was indeed done - my husband was prompted to read His Word and that is always a good thing! Love, - Becky, Beaverton, Oregon
Dear Father Benedict: I had an experience similar to yours 32 years ago. I was in a terrible auto accident and given up for dead--I was in a coma for several days and remember vividly that at the moment of impact, everything went black, then, after a moment of silence, I heard a sound I can only describe as 'the rustle of wings,' and felt myself hurtling down (or up?) a tunnel towards a light; and then, just as suddenly, it stopped! I have believed ever since that an angel was escorting me to my eternal destiny, and then was 'called off'! In any case, I was in the hospital for 16 weeks, had several surgeries, then walked with crutches or canes for years. But today, 32 years later, I am hale and hearty, pain-free, and walk unaided. It was faith and prayer that got me through it, and I know the same will be true for you. God bless you and keep you, from one who truly understands!!! - Bill, St. Paul, Minnesota
FR Benedict: I praise God everyday for healing you so beautifully. I am blessed to have the opportunity to take daily communion to my friend who is terminally ill with cancer, so uour words of wisdom in visiting the sick have really been helpful. It is a healing experience for myself. Please pray for my friend Conce and her family. I am looking forward to watching your program that EWTN will be airing in June. May God bless you in all you do in his name. Today is Priest Appreciation Day, so know that you are appreciated and loved by many people all over the world. WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU, FATHER BENEDICT. - Genoveva, Laredo, Texas
Dear Fr. Benedict: I check in with you every day either at work or at home. I am so relieved to see that you are doing well. I love to see your "re-runs" but, I can't wait for the day when you are "live from EWTN!" You have been such an inspiration to me (a former kid from Bensonhurst in Brooklyn,N.Y.) and now living in Bucks County, Pa.---just over the bridge from Trenton, N.J.) You have been such a comfort to me when I can't sleep at night. I just keep EWTN on all night and love when you come on with your inspirational words. God Bless you and keep you on the road to recovery. - Toni, Morrisville, Penn.
Thanks for your messages on visiting the sick. They're right on the money. I had a protracted recovery from surgery a couple of years ago and I know a couple of my friends just didn't get it. I think part of the problem is that people just don't like to admit the reality of human suffering, so they act as if the ill person in front of them isn't suffering. Suffering frightens people and reminds them of their mortality. When I remind myself of this fact it helps me forgive those who seemed insensitive to my condition after surgery. I could not be myself in any way, shape or form. and most of the time I wanted no one around me. My husband and I continue to be very conderned for you and I hope that you have had at least one person who dedicated himself as much to you in your suffering as he did in mine. GOD LOVE YOU. - Nancy T., Wappingers, New York
Fr. Benedict. We hope that you are well. WE pray for you. You have a lot of unfinished work. I hope to be with you to help you distriubute thanksgiving baskets in the South Bronx. My wife and I enjoyed assisting you in feeding the poor. My prayers are with you. I am a permanent deacon. - Deacon George Phillips, Corpus Christi, Texas
