Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From Trinity Retreat

Thursday, July 1, 2004

I was speaking recently to one of the men involved in my physical therapy, which, if you’re not familiar with it, involves a great deal of exercises that stretch muscles and get limbs operative. Because of the severity of my injuries the therapy can be quite painful. He revealed something to me I had never known. When I was at the hospital, I used to talk about recovery, meaning total recovery, more or less. He encouraged me, as did all the other therapists, but I found out that he and the others had some doubts about how much I was going to recover and how much I would accomplish. I’m glad they never told me, because I would have become discouraged.
It is necessary to have determination to overcome serious obstacles in any area of human activity. It is perhaps even more obvious when it comes to your own body and its functioning. Because of determination I am now able to walk almost a half a mile a day and do a number of things, which seemed quite impossible only a month ago.
Where does the determination come from? I know it comes from the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of fortitude. We may not be very brave or determined, but if we leave our hearts and minds open and ask the Holy Spirit for His strength, He will give it and we will overcome.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

"Catastrophe and Faith"

Thursday July 1, 2004 5:00 AM
Friday July 2, 2004 11:00 AM

On EWTN
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Hi Fr., I want to make a suggestion for a website I will so dearly miss. I find Spirituality here, this is the web page that drew me back to The Church. I will be forever in your debt. I suggest prayers, meditations and pastoral counseling. I believe with all the priest bashing going on, a good website gives us good stories that we can use to tell people about the good things our Church does. Thank you and may God continue to bless us all. - Patrick, Riverside, Conn.

Thank you for this wonderful website. A suggestion for the website I would love is perhaps an online bible study or something like it. It could contain maybe a focus on the Gospels. What did Jesus mean when he said this or that? Some scriptures are clear, but some of it I struggle with like the parables. I desire to follow Jesus and I want to understand his word. Thank you. - Michael, Wylie, Texas

Dear Fr. Benedict: It was so wonderful to see you on EWTN. My husband and I continue to pray daily for your recovery. We need to hear more from you. I just finished your tapes on abandonment to Divine Providence and thank you for making them. We look forward to seeing you on EWTN. - Mary, Wilmington, Delaware

Fr. Benedict, One thing that came to me this morning as I read your email posting and listened to you was, why not SHOW us what you are doing in your ministry. You could show us maybe once or twice a week a specific way you are helping the poor and describe how we can help you or those in the area where we live. The other days there could be a posting of spiritual direction or insights on living the life of Christ in the present day. As always you and all religious are in my thoughts and prayers daily. GOD BLESS and keep you in all you do, - Kathy, Houston, Texas

Dear Father Groeschel, I have thanked God for this website, not only because it has kept me updated on your recovery, but because it has given me a chance to have "morning meditations". Yes I do pray on my own, but I don't get EWTN, so therefore, I miss out on a lot of meditations and teachings. So, which ever way you and the people of this site feel God is moving you, I will be happy to just have this site. It has been a blessing for me. Thank you for all the time and effort put into it. May God continue to bless you all! - Janet, East Hadam, Conn.

Father Benedict, It was wonderful to see you on television again in Catastrophe and Faith. I am so happy that you are out of the hospital and doing better. Thank you for bringing Jesus Christ to so many through the medium of television. Please be assured of my continued prayers and I look forward to seeing you on EWTN in your series this summer. May God continue to bless you! - Megan, Keller Texas

Dear Fr. Benedict, I saw "Catastrophe and Faith" the other night. I was glad to see you speaking at such length and happy that the wound on your forehead is healing nicely. It's a great inspiration, after all you've been through, to see you continuing with the work that God has given you to do, in spite of your pain, fatigue and discomfort. The next time I'm whining, complaining and otherwise throwing myself a "pity party", I'll think of you and remember to just get on with it! I continue to pray for your complete recovery and will most especially pray now for healing to your arm. God Bless, we love you! - Mary, Jersey

Dear Father Benedict, It was so wonderful to see you on EWTN on Sunday evening. You are a living example of answer to prayer. Never a day has gone by, since that aweful day in January when you were injured, have I missed praying for your recovery. Please know they will continue. You are a gift from God to His Church. Thank you. God bless. - Dorothy, Totowa, New Jersey

Dear Father Benedict - How wonderful to see you on EWTN talking about Catastrophe and Faith. Thank you for this and for the effort it took - God bless you. I miss our Saturday morning retreats in Kearny, but as long as you keep nourishing our souls this way, I'm happy. And the Franciscan website! it has been a joy to me. Have you considered making a book out of these pearls of wisdom, since not everyone has access to the internet. I fortunately do, and read your messages every day - thank you for this effort also. God has been so good - allowing us to have you with us for much, much longer. Know you have touched so many people. I pray for you every day, and our Oratory of Divine Love prays for you every Wednesday when we meet. Please feel better, take care, and God bless. - Geri, Berkeley Heights

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