Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From Trinity Retreat

Friday July 16, 2004

Recently I asked those who read the web site to send me some suggestions on topics they would like to see discussed. One of the frequently mentioned ones was the media. Unfortunately, the media, which have an impact on everybody’s life one way or another, also have the ability to cause harm when we’re least aware of it. Each one of the different media operations has its own bad effects.
Let’s take the newspapers: they are only supposed to bring news and identify their opinions separately as editorials. That, of course, is rarely done. Newspapers are not supposed to attack different specific religions. On the feast of the Assumption last year the Op-Ed page of the New York Times had an article ridiculing the dogma of the Assumption. This is completely out of line with the expectations we have of newspapers in the United States. Frequently they make their best efforts to do a hatchet job on the Catholic Church and the Catholic clergy, frequently judging people in the paper and condemning them before there has even been a trial.
Everyone should be aware that newspapers in the United States are largely antireligious and anti-Catholic. It’s certainly true that there are newspapers that are not opposed to religion. We ought to support those papers and no others. If a paper in your area is viciously anti-Catholic, write them a letter and tell them. It’s amazing that the most anti-Catholic newspapers in the United States are often in areas where there are large Catholic populations like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Newspapers generally look so harmless. We need to remember that we cannot attack religion and the Church and not attack Almighty God and His Beloved Son. “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters,” says Our Lord (Matt. 12:30).

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict
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Good Evening Fr. Benedict: I'm so glad to read that you are getting after those of us who have forgotten or lost our way as to how to dress at mass. I don't really dress badly, but now that I have read your thoughts on the matter, I take more time as to what I might buy. I use to do this all the time! Now I hear your words about how we should respect the very house that God lives in. So now I'm going to pay attention to that once again. As far as for people talking in the church before mass I would probably talk to the pastor if he is willing to listen to what a number of you have to say on the matter. Don't go as one person go as a group and talk to him in a concerned manner. Maybe he will make a homily on it to get the message across. Being that I'm blind, I usually turn around and lightly touch the person and say "quiet" or "YOU SHOULD BE TALKING TO GOD NOT ONE ANOTHER." Usually something like that with a disturbed face gets the point across. Fr. Benedict Please keep up the talks and we'll keep up the prayers. Blessings. - Serine, New York, New York

Dear Beloved Friends at Grassroots: When Father is unable to get a message to us...the picture of Father Ben standing," at the Foot of the Cross", is truly inspirational enough...What words can be substituted for that? That picture reminds us all to stand at the Foot of the Cross...as Father Ben has his entire religious life! He deserves days "off" for good behavior! Much love, many prayers... - Jackie, New York

It is nice to hear that you are getting better. I miss you on EWTN sharing your great wisdom with us. You are always in my prayers. GOD BLESS YOU! - Kevin, Midland, Michigan

I just want to tell you Fr Groeschel that I love you and thank God very much for you. I've only heard you a few times during the noon broadcast on my local Catholic station, but in those few broadcasts I've heard God through you, and I am thrilled any time I turn on my radio and hear you speaking. A perfect example of why I am so thankful to you is this: during one of your talks you spoke about how you wished to be protected from the saved, and if when one gets to heaven and is confronted with the choice of getting in the line of the lost or of the saved by all means get in the line of the lost for that is who Jesus came to save. As a man who was born and raised a fundamentalist by parents who graduated from Bob Jones University, you can imagine that your words were definitely a gift from God that day. Before entering the Catholic Church I spent many years of my life being afraid of not being saved, and it is thrilling when God washes away the remnants of those fears like he did the day I heard you speak those words. I hope one day to be able to say thank you in person, whether here or eternity, but until then I will say thank you in this email and pray it reaches you and pray for your continued recovery and health, and pray that you know how much your fidelity and fierce devotion and love of the Church and God have been a gift, inspiration, and motivation on days when I can't seem lift my head up. Thank you, thank you thank you. Sincerely, - Phillip, NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina

Dear Father Benedict, Lord, have mercy. Once again, you have touched the very center of my heart. I am just old enough to remember the Latin Mass and what stands out in my mind, too, is the reverence, respect and sincere quiet in Church. The argument has been that "we" didn't understand the Mass. Yet,I believe I did because as a child I was able to see the reverence by the example of the adults around me. I bought a CD recently of traditional Catholic Latin Hymns. When I play this, my entire being is filled with joy.It is a feeling that I can't really put into words except to say that I feel very focused on Jesus. My young children enjoy this CD when we play it in the car, and when I ask them why, they tell me that they feel good. I try to tell them what the Latin means, but they prefer just to listen. Our tiny parish , here, in Iowa, is very reverent. Perhaps it is because we have many seniors who are showing us the example. a lot has been thrust upon my older friends during their lives, and what they have held onto to all of these years is the prescience of Christ in the Eucharist. I believe, from talking to them, that this is why they are so reverent in Church. Knowing that He is there is reason enough to want to dress well and behave appropriately.It is my hope that I will be able to follow their example by setting the example for my children. I pray for your continued recovery. May God bless and keep you. - Charlotte, Chariton, Iowa

Dear Fr. Benedict, Please don't think that I would ever expect a personal reply to my posts to you. I can just imagine how you would dislike writing e-mail, and I know how generously you love us. You have had enough Purgatory on earth, lol. Fr. Benedict, I think about you all of the time with so much gratitude. I am one of the many who came to you broken and was able to mend, and my gratitude to you overflows my entire life. You touch so many lives in such a deep and profound way. Thank you for writing forcefully about reverence. I want to say, "Yes! Father, PLEASE give us the TRUTH and straight up, we can take it, because your words are filled with the deepest love and concern for our souls and in getting us to heaven. Keep writing strong, Father. Never be afraid, your love shines through every word. We love you so very much and thank God for you.
Love in Our Lady, - Joanie, Rapids, North Carolina

Dear Fr. Groeschel,HURRAY, for your speaking about the noise in Mass and the attire of the people. I know at EWTN you can't wear shorts to Mass and I see nothing wrong with dressing proper for God. I think the word MODESTY has become ancient news. A young man came to church for a holy hour and he had shorts on and I scolded him for it. I said he was going to see God and not on the beach. He got upset with me and said, well Father never said anything to me. I told him, he probably didn't have the guts too. Maybe I was wrong, but I wish there were more strong priests like you and your friars and the ones on EWTN. Remember the one that Mother use to say, about two women going to hell over a COMMODE? No disrespect intended Father, but its almost like, how are you going to explain all the bad attire, and disrespect given to the HOUSE OF GOD.Can you just imagine how these same people would be, if you showed total disrespect to them in their homes. God love you Fr. Groeschel. You and your God fearing Friars, are what we hungry for God are looking for and wanting to hear from. God bless you all and hold you close to His heart. - Mary Anne, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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