Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From Trinity Retreat

Saturday July 10, 2004

Reverence is a quality that one shows to sacred things and especially to God. Reverence shown to God is called in Latin latria; in English the word that signifies reverence to God is adoration. We express reverence in many ways, including how we look and dress. Obviously this is related to what we can afford or what is available at any given time.
Not so long ago we all dressed very well to go to Mass. We also dressed very well to go shopping or to work, or to take a trip on a bus, or even to visit someone for an evening. Formal dress has now disappeared in our country except for people who have a strong sense of reverence. In this area I must give recognition to our Jewish neighbors. On Friday night and Saturday, Jewish people on their way to the synagogue are formally attired, dressed in their best clothes. As a rule, this is also true of most Protestants.
What about us Catholics? I don’t know how it happened, but many Catholics are going to Church now in the worst clothes they own. Some look as if they’re on the way to the beach, and others look as if they’re returning from the beach. The one group that does not dress down to go to Church are the poor. Those in the poor areas of the city almost always wear their best to Church, yet the rest of us have somehow decided that sloppiness is next to godliness.
It is good for individuals and families to examine their consciences about reverence and irreverence regarding the way they dress for Mass. Informal attire that is clean, neat, and dignified is at least better than what people often wear in the holy presence of God in Church. Dirty overalls or jeans and sweaty T-shirts do not belong in Church, nor does someone who is immodestly dressed.
It is a strange paradox: we Catholics believe that God Himself comes to us in the Person of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. One would think that we would be the most reverent of all.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict
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I think it would be a great idea to post daily messages of inspiration from the Friars. It should not be the responsibility of one person. I would like to hear more about the work you do and how it has changed your life and the lives of those you serve. Also, any comments about the daily mass readings is always helpful for me. Every day I thank God and pray for you and all religious and faithful servants. - Tim, Owensboro, Kentucky

Regarding Father Ben's schedule: I just read where Father is very tentatively scheduled to appear on EWTN LIVE program on August 11th! My birthday is August 13th, and of course the beloved St. Clare is August 12. What a birthday present ...a dream come true to see Father Benedict in that chair next to Father Mitch! And to make it momentous for sure would be to have our beloved Mother Angelica sitting right besides them both! This great miracle has yet to unfold..let us keep praying, and NEVER lose Hope! - Jacqueline, New York

Dear Father Groeschel, I wrote shortly after your accident to let you know you're in my prayers each day. This time I not only want to say that my prayers for you continue but that I appreciate your daily messages of inspiration and encouragement. They help me live more closely the Gospel Way of life. Thank you so much! - Marilyn, Fairport, New York

Dear Father Benedict, You asked for our opinions about the future of this site, and I thought it was a good idea to have different friars have a day to write that way the burden is not on you alone. I was thinking, if we are able to continue emailing like this, that maybe ideas for the site might be inspired by some of us out here in cyber space. Thank you for all you have done especially uniting your suffering with Jesus on the Cross. God bless you. With Love, - Susan, Westbury, New York

Dear Fr. Benedict, Great message today. It's amazing to see many enter church go to the pew and half genuflect, half bow their head some actually bend with the knee touching the floor. There was also some quibbling regarding genuflecting before communion. There has been no clear direction from the Diocese regarding this manner. Until there is my approach is to pray to myself "My God I love you in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the alter". To many this seems to be a small matter, how sloppy we can get regarding devotion. Thank you. This is the type message that would fit this page. God Bless you, we need more like you. My continued prayers for your full recovery. God Bless you. - Edward, Warwick, Rhode Island

Dear Fr. Benedict, I hope you get well soon! I hope my rosary helped. Yours in christ Jesus,
Andrew, age9, Lakewood, California

I just wrote a letter and forgot I turned 10 yesterday. Love, Andrew Page, age10, Lakewood, California

Most Reverend Fr. Benedict Groeschel, God bless you and keep you in all you do. Ironically I was number 666 on the web site counter today and hopefully I won't be your Hell. Even though my old Theology teacher used to tell me "People are Hell". I just wanted to thank you for all of your audio tape books and EWTN programs you are quite the inspiration. One thing that the Holy Spirit sink into my thick skull that you stated - Let God guide your intelligence, never close it off - or something close to that. What spurred these ramblings was your comment about appropriate dress or reverent dress in church. I've heard both ends of the spectrum of this disagreement and have pretty much put it in the - Christians have more problems than who's wearing flip-flops to church of course the inherent question is - how did we get to the point of wearing flip-flops to church? Thank you for letting me spew my nonsense and God Bless you and all the Friars. - Stephen, newark, Delaware

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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