From
Trinity Retreat Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,
From
Trinity Retreat
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
I’m constantly being reminded on the immense number of people
who have prayed and are praying for my health and recovery. It is phenomenal.
I sense it and think of the immense debt that I owe to people for their prayers
and concerns and all that I can say is thanks be to God that I am able to offer
Mass, because this is a prayer of infinite value, which I offer for those who
have been praying for me.
What does it mean when we pray for a person? It’s mysterious,
but it follows the command of Christ. Jesus says, “ask and you shall receive,
seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you” in the parable
of the importunate neighbor He tells us to ask consistently and even persistently.
God certainly answers our prayers. He doesn’t always answer them the way
we want them answered, but He will always bring good out of evil. An immense
number of prayers were said for me. They literally snatched me back from the
door of death and have kept me going and I am still relying on them for the
improvement of my arm and functioning on my right side. But how much do we owe
each other for prayer? An immense amount. Every day we should offer prayers
for all those who pray for us, all those who have done good to us and who have
gone before us. Prayers for the Holy Souls on their journey into heaven is also
a beautiful way of paying off ones debts. I never think of praying for people
as exactly paying off a debt, but rather returning an act of kindness to someone
who was so kind to me as to bless me or to pray for me.
Let us continue to pray for each other!
Father Benedict
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Good afternoon Fr. Benedict! I'm guessing that you have no idea how important your messages are to me and others like me I am sure! Knowing someone is out there to guide and inspire me on a daily basis has touched my heart and soul! Just keep doing what your doing, and although I might be a little partial to you, others messages will be welcome to me. The one thing I really love is when the film has the clip of the "Host"! Any time they want to put that in, that is fine with me! Praying hard to our merciful Lord for that elbow still! Love, Marie, Wilton, Maine
Dear Fr. Benedict, Each morning as I pray for your healing, I thank the Lord for all the healing He has given to you already and for allowing us to have you with us still in the most powerful way. Before we had to attend a conference, often many miles from home, or buy one of your books or watch you on EWTN. Now we can "visit" with you every day in a very personal way. Your messages fill us with hope, help us to see the value in redemptive suffering and help us to see Jesus more clearly. Bless you, Father! Each day I have feared visiting the site to learn that the daily messages will soon come to an end. How thrilled I am to know that these will continue. God bless you. Thank you for your pastoral love for all of us. - Mary, Bemidji, Minnesota
Dear Fr. Groeschel, I love seeing the videos of you because I can see the improvement in your face when I log on. That is so wonderful to SEE, not just read about! We love you, here in California. We keep praying for your full recovery. - Martha, Goleta, California
Hi Father Benedict, I know what you mean about seeing people walking around and how you wish you could and that you realized you hadn't been so grateful before. One time, I found myself in an emergency room with bad chest pains. As I sat there and saw everyone rushing about, those same feelings you had hit me. I became so afraid that I would never again get to do that. I realized for the first time that I never knew how lucky I was, and how it could change forever in an instant. It was very very sobering to say the least. I realized that for some people, life had been altered seriously for them. I am so glad you wrote it, because it reminds me again that I am such a wretch, and in need of a deeper conversion. How quickly I have forgotten this important lesson once the danger for me had passed. How strong and yet how fragile a life is. Maybe the difference between us is that you didn't have time to be grateful before because you were too busy doing His work and will. You probably wished you were even stronger and with more energy then, and that 24 hours werent enough to do all you wanted to do for Him. But me...well, these weren't my thoughts. I probably was wasting my time, worrying about nonsense and wasting what ever energy He gave me on useless stuff. So, same lesson but for two very different students. Your lesson will pay off with a golden crown. Mine may save me a few thousand years in Purgatory. I'm rambling. I wanted to tell you that you look much better in your latest video, so you're obviously on the slow road to Wellville. Be kind to yourself...He loves you so very much, and so do all of us. Your friend in Christ Jesus, - Linda, Woodhaven, New York
Dearest Father Benedict, Praised be Jesus and Mary for
being at your side throughout this time of suffering and healing. I find that
I have come to feel more secure that you are indeed recovering and while we
still pray as a family every single eveninging for you, I have lessened my visits
to this daily vigil on the friars web site (thanks be to GOD). We are so grateful
to have you coming back to us and while we are quite sure you're not completely
healed, we know that GOD still has a great purpose for your life IN OUR LIVES.
God bless you Father... keep fighting, keep trusting, keep praying for us too.
We have grown so much for your accident and without having been in an accident
of our own. God has mysterious ways. All For His Glory, - Alice, Cape Coral,
Florida
Dear Fr. Ben, It must be s full time job to be brave, strong, and inspirational
when you are tired, discouraged and it would be nice to go to sleep for a year
and wake up refreshed. Nice dreaming on the last one.Well, you are permitted
to be human and I send you a big painless hug over the electromagnetic fields
of the internet. Much love,S.P.S. as the last seat in purgatory has my plaque
on it youl'll have to find other accomodations front row or direct catapult
to heaven. - Stephanie, Danbury, Conn.
Fr. Benedict - the daily update to the WEB site has been
a blessing to many. First, it was a great tool to receive updates on your progress
and for you to know that people cared. Now that you are improving, continuing
to update this site with words of wisdom from you and your community are most
appreciated. - Tom, Friendswood, Texas
Dear Father Benedict, Lord,have mercy. It's hard to believe that I have been visiting this site for 6 months. School is over for us now in Iowa, and my routine changes a little bit. Still, I want to keep the habit of checking in with you each day in the early morning hours, followed by my prayers, especially praying for your recovery. I am so grateful that you have decided to keep this site open. Your messages are so helpful and the videos are very inspiring. I have learned so much about what it means to be in hospital and how to visit the sick, and recovering.Today, my eight year old daughter, Caroline, saw a little boy leave the hospital in a wheel chair. She asked me if she should feel sorry for him because she didn't need a wheel chair. I told her that we didn't know for sure if he couldn't walk because there are rules about leaving the hospital but it was good that she appreciated what she could do. I also pointed out what you taught me, and that is, suffering unites us with Jesus and that the little boy's situation may bring him close to Him. She thought about it. Little ones can be so profound without saying a word. It was the look in her eyes that told me she thought it was very important and "deep". Sometimes, I too, Father, stare at the screen when you say something that touches me and I just think. Thank you for all that you do. We pray for your continued recovery. May God bless and keep you. - Charlotte, Chariton, Iowa
