From
Trinity Retreat Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,
From
Trinity Retreat
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Sometimes in this brief column it strikes me that I am too serious. I’m writing about serious things in a very serious part of my life after a very serious accident. But in the course of time in the hospital and now at home I’ve seen many things to laugh at. Often these things are my own shortcomings or inconsistencies. Many people write to me about serious and painful problems that they have. In all of this the words of my Irish great-grandmother, Suzie Murphy, come back, “As you go through life you can laugh or cry, but if you laugh you’ll live longer.” God gave us an ability to cry or to laugh, but we hope that we shall laugh for eternity.
Let us continue to pray for each other!
Father Benedict
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Father Benedict, Lord, have mercy. Since the moment you welcomed sugesstions for this site, I have thought long and hard. I wish to add my thoughts in the most humblest way I can. I hope that the site remains just as it is. I know that many enjoy chat rooms and "Dear Abbey" and those ideas can be helpful. However, the beauty of this site is that it encourages our quiet relationship with God. When we pray, we have to wait. We have to listen. And you have always taught us how important this is to our knowing Him. I fear that if it becomes too "interactive" we might lose the beauty of the silence. The act of reading your message, praying, thinking and waiting is so unique to anything else available, and it is a practice that, a lay person, like myself, would not have the opportunity to experience otherwise. Again, I repeat, that I am saying this with all due respect, and as much humility as I can muster. And I pray with all my heart, that my response is not selfish, but helpful. May God bless and keep you. - Charlotte, Chariton, Iowa
Dear Father Benedict, I think it is a wonderful idea to continue having
a recorded message, prayers, mediations, and "news" on the site on
a daily basis!!! It is so good to know that you are home again. As a nurse,
I know how much being home means to someone who has been ill and not in their
home. I bet your cats are thrilled to have you back!!! God Bless You dear Father!!
- Sandra, Flemington, New Jersey
Dear Fr. Benedict: It is such a joy to see your health improving each day. Your
daily messages and video truly inspire and bring God's grace, love, and goodness
into so many lives. Through this website we are united across the globe as family,
in the love of the Blessed Trinity and all the saints. I do hope we can continue
to visit with you and your community through this venue, and seek the spiritual
nourishment that has come to be such a wonderful part of our lives. My suggestion
for the future of the website is to provide a daily homily on the Mass readings
for the day. This would benefit those who have the opportunity to attend daily
Mass, and would help soothe the wounds of those who don't. I would also like
to ask if you would consider a link to a page where we might meet the members
of your community and read their vocation stories. I am a member of the Serra
Club of North Columbus, Ohio and we just had the pleasure of sponsoring Fr.
Stan Fortuna, CFR to talk on vocations to the youth of the diocese. His own
story is a marvelous one, as I am sure each of yours are. We all need to hear
vocation stories, just like we need to read the Lives of the Saints, to inspire,
to provide example, and to give encouragement for the journey God's asks us
to accept. May God continue to bless you...and may he bless the Church with
many more holy priests like you.- Mary, Powell, Ohio
Good Morning Father Benedict, Isn't it wonderful the progress you have made over the many months and how you have taken this deep suffering and turned it into a ministry to reach out and touch so many of us with your living faith and inspiration!!! I thank God for you Father Benendict, you have certainly touched my heart with your profound strength and witness to living the life of a true follower and shepard of our dear Lord, Jesus Christ. I look forward each day to read your messages, thank you for allowing us to be able to do so and thank you to all of your faithful staff who work so hard to make this possible too. May God continue to shower you with His love, grace and mercy as we all walk together with Jesus our Lord and Savior. In His Love, - Shirley, Groveton,, New Hampshire
My Dear Fr. Groeschel, At a very low time in my life, I read your book Arise From the Darkness. As I read with my eyes the words, I could hear with my ears your voice. It was as if you were sitting next to me, dispensing God's mercy and a renewed awareness of God's grace. The experience of hope and comfort that book gave me will never be forgotton. May all our prayers for you give you back 10 fold all the blessings you have given to others. I know this time must be very hard, but I also know how many people will be touched through your offerings of sacrifice. I am praying for your peace in suffering, and your continued recovery. Oremus pro invicem. - Irene, La Place, Los Angelas
Dear Fr. Benedict, your words of wisdom about visiting Shut-ins touched me deeply as I remembered being homebound for four months earlier this last year at the age of thirty-six following major surgery. For an extrovert who was used to being on the go, it was very hard to adjust to my closed quarters. Thankfully, I found ways to reach out to others with the telephone and internet who were also unable to get out due to illness. There are many people today that we can help if we turn off our televisions and open our eyes. I am so grateful for the progress you continue to make and my prayers for Fr. Solanus Casey's intercession in your complete recovery of the right arm continue. May Jesus, Mary and Joseph keep watch over you, the Friars and everyone at Grassroots. All of you are such a great example of Pope John Paul's evangelization for the new millenium--and such a beacon of hope for us all. I thank God for you and all our priests every day. Keep on mending and know we are learning many needed lessons from a very wise man! - Howell, Michigan
Dear Fr. Groeschel, Just a little suggestion for the website. Maybe you or one of the friars or sisters could post a cheer message to some of us who are homebound and ill. I havent had a visitor in months. Can't get out anymore. So your messages are like having someone say each day they care I am still here. Continuing in prayer for your recovery. Offering each day all my sufferings for you, the friars and sisters. Thanks...God Bless you all. love - Rebbeca, Littleton, Compton Rhode Island
