Dear friends of
Fr. Benedict,
From Trinity Retreat
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
I am delighted by the response of so many of our e-mail correspondents to my
suggestion about visiting the sick and infirmed. Someone however has pointed
out to me that I did not stress shut-ins enough. Shut-ins are people who because
of physical infirmity have lived in their own home for months or years. They
seldom go out and their world is the small world of a bedroom and perhaps a
living room and dining room. In every neighborhood there are shut-ins and Christ
refers to them very specifically in the Sermon on the Mount when He says, “I
was sick and imprisoned and you visited me.”
It would be a beautiful thing if every block in America had some people on it
who took care of the shut-ins on the block and saw to it that they had what
they needed or perhaps a few treats. How wonderful it would be for most shut-ins
to have a ride in a car, or to go to see something. It’s not difficult
to do this, but it does require some planning and enough self-assurance to get
to know one and to offer them assistance. Christ will be waiting for you in
their bedroom.
Let us continue to pray for each other!
Father Benedict
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
My Dear Fathers/Sisters: We can never thank Our Lord enough
for each and every one of you, and for His decision to leave Fr. Benedict here
with us to continue to help us along the way. My suggestion for website: Each
day our Holy Mother Church gives us specific Scripture readings. I am positive
that the Holy Spirit inspires you, His special servants, with thoughts/meditations
on how to apply these passages to daily living. Please share your insights with
us as we constantly need spiritual direction. With thanks and praise to Almighty
God for His continuing love, I am ... Gratefully yours, L.W., - Oratory of Divine
Love, New Orleans, Louisiana.
I would like to second the suggestion of Janet from Philadelphia on giving us
the story of a saint everyday. When I was homeschooling my son and a saint's
name would come up in the assignment he would always ask for the story. I had
to look up many of them, as a convert, and I loved the education and inspiration
we both got. It has been a few years now since we were home schooling, but just
last week my teenage son said how much he loved having me read to him about
the saints. - Chandler, Arizona
Dear Father Benedict, I am writing again this day to
wish you a very Happy Father's day.. I am sure by now you realize how many sons
and daughters look to you for messages of love from our Lord. Thank you for
all you do, which is really so much. You look wonderful in the video from Trinity
House, you have gained a little weight back in your face, and you look healthier.
There is something wonderful about the medicine of "going home." Father
the website is a wonderful idea. My first request is that you write that beautiful
prayer you prayed to us. The prayer about devoting your day to Christ through
the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Father, I am so excited about the website. I think
a daily prayer that we could all say at a predetermined time would be great.
For example people might be asked at 7:00 eastern time on this day to say a
prayer for vocations, or a prayer to end abortions. Then we would have the power
of all this flock in unison offering up thousands of prayers to heaven. How
awesome. All could participate as the time, because it could be understood for
pacific, central time and all overseas. So people around the world could be
praying at the same time. That's just an idea. The emails from others have been
so enriching to my faith, they are like vitamin pills, I pray if it is not to
much work, that maybe some of these beautiful spiritual messages will still
be shared. I pray that you consider allowing the messages to continue and maybe
their response in the future can be directed from the messages placed on the
website. This is a wonderful blessing having this webiste and being able to
hear Father's message. Any opportunity in the future is a prayer answered. Thank
you Father. - Kathy, in East Haddam, Conn.
Dear Father Benedict, Just as so many others have expressed, this website is
one of my "regulars" each day, and I am so glad you're planning on
continuing with your beautiful thoughts and teachings. You asked for some suggestions.
I don't know if it's plausible, but could you include some highlights from some
of your EWTN programs? The series on the Ten Commandents was great, and also
the one on God's Mercy. Maybe you could make it a little "Mini Series"
for this website. Just a thought. Take care, and I pray every day for your continued
recovery. - Nancy, Lewisville, North Carolina
Dear Father Benedict, We are so happy to hear about your
progress. Our family has been praying
for you since the accident happened. We are also happy to check your web site
for information and your mediations. I was thinking it would be nice to have
a question/answer section about the Church on your web page, along with the
news and meditation. Thanks for your consideration. - The Leary Family, Austin,
Texas
Dear Father Benedict: Thank you again for your messages on the website. They touch my heart and lift my spirits. I continue to pray for you daily. I love you. - Adrienne, Thornhill, Ontario Canada
Dear Fr. Benedict, I am glad you are home now. We've been reading your messages on the computer. Are you doing well? We will miss you at the Family conference in Wichita this Aug. - Luke, age 10
