Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From Trinity Retreat

Wednesday July 7, 2004

When you get to be 70 years old, you’re well aware that time goes by quickly and that our stay in this world is a very temporary one. Today, after hobbling to my visits with a couple of doctors, I returned home to find an old high school teacher of mine, Fr. Joseph Sheehan, waiting for me at the retreat house. Fr. Sheehan taught me in second-year high school and is still working hard as a priest in Linden, New Jersey. We talked about the old days, about people we both knew 56 years ago — a reminder that life goes by quickly. It doesn’t seem like 56 years ago; it doesn’t seem like 10 years. During the past year I have been very aware of the temporary nature of life. It is not something we should be afraid of, since it is utterly inescapable. It is not something we should be terrified of, because it marks our going home, the conclusion of our struggles in this world.
Whether you are young or old, as you read this message, think of the day when you will leave this world. Remember it, because that’s the day when you will understand completely the mercy of God, when you will have to put yourself completely at His mercy. You will have to trust God that He will go with you, that Our Blessed Savior will receive you. If you are a Catholic, you have been saying all your life, “Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.”
Death is not to be feared; rather it is something to anticipate. If you make death your friend, you will not spend your life being terrified. You will have the greatest motivation for compassion and charity and care for the poor. When He meets us, Jesus will say, “I was hungry and you gave Me to eat.”

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict
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Dear Fr. Benedict, here is a little suggestion for the daily slot on the webpage. Why not have a weekly meditation or prayer in preparation for the beginning of the 'Year of the Eucharist'. The great treasury that is in the Franciscan Resources has a few gems on the Eucharist that must be shared with everyone. Pace e bene, - George, EAST KILBRIDE, , SCOTLAND

Good Father, thank the Lord for your recovery and in the spirit of St. Clare, I say to you-Franciscans- please preach. His Light and Truth are so needed in the world. Blessed Mother keep you close and thank you. - Suzanne, St. Paul, Minnesota

Dear Fr Benedict, today we celebrated the 27th Anniversary of the first "Healing Mass" ever celebrated. From Sydney, Australia it spread to everywhere in the world. We remembered you in prayer with Bishop David Cremin, thanking God for your recovery. We keep on praying for you, please remember the "Healing Mass" in your prayers. God Bless You Father! Love from all of us at The Yarra Bay Eucharistic Prayer Community, - Marika, Waverley, Australia

Dear Fr. Groeschel, I think sometimes when we're ill we have a tendency not to treat ourself as well as we should. So I think it's important that we make a conscious effort during this time to be kind to ourself whenever we can. I think suffering reminds us of just how little we can accomplish without God's help. Thank you for your ministry. I wish we all had your work ethic. - Denise, Oaklyn, New Jersey

Dear Fr. Benedict: I am delighted to see what great progress you have made in the past several months and continue to pray for you every day. In response to your request for suggestions about the website, I would like to suggest that one day a week be dedicated to responding to questions posed by readers. This works very effectively on EWTN with call-in shows and the questions are often extremely insightful. Recently, a woman called into a program on the Prayer Channel with a question which seemed to stump the panel of clergymen. The woman said she had read that the Pope had said something along the lines that that heaven was not actually a place but could exist within us. The woman found this troubling and asked where Christ and the Blessed Mother were, if heaven was not really a place. If this question had been submitted in advance, a cogent answer would have been available, I'm sure. One thing is for certain, people have lots of questions about their faith. What better source of answers than Fr. Benedict and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. God Bless You always. - Kathleen, Brooklyn, New York

Dear Fr. Groeschel, Our faith-filled persevering prayers and support for your full recovery! Special greetings as we commemorate prior to your two Surgeries that Precious Lily of Purity canonized, we believe, in 1920, ST. MARIA GORETTI, one of our most deeply beloved Saints! Humbly, - Rosa, Chicago, Illinois

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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