From Trinity Retreat

Sunday August 8, 2004

We all experience setbacks in life. Perhaps we are working our way through a difficult situation and the solution seems right at hand; then suddenly it disappears. Maybe some other mishap or tragedy occurs, which puts us back again at the beginning of a long, hard road. Many people live their lives in the hope that setbacks will not occur. When they do come, they are almost defeating. People tend to give up when there are setbacks. We would do far better to recall that human life in this valley of tears is a series of setbacks and that survival is a series of confident actions to overcome setbacks to the best of our ability.
As you read this, you might look at some of the setbacks in your life, some of the heartbreaks and unforeseen failures on your own part or that of others. When they occur, we should not give up; we should go on. When I read the Gospels and the life of Our Divine Savior, I see a series of setbacks, followed by His final triumph. The same is true in the lives of the saints who have tried to follow Christ. Pick up your cross and carry it. That’s what the Savior says.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict
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Dear Fr. Ben & your brothers ..I just watched the video for the 10th time of the ordination of these fine young men. I am just overwhelmed, first at the beauty and spirit that comes through that video and the awesomeness of it all. There is hope ...I agree with the lady who said that the springtime of evangelization for the Catholic Church that our beloved John Paul II sees on the horizon is right there with you..the opening shot of the brother face down and the final shot of the cross superimposed over his body..well that picture is worth a million words. Hats off to your Grassroots Production for sharing this with so many of your viewers on this site...The holiness came right through the screen...And I know there are much more young men who will be coming to your order saying YES to the cross...that YES to the cross at the very end of the video really hit me ..these men are saying such a total YES to Yeshua even unto the cross...it is such a grace..such a favor from our good God to the whole world ...I am just over awed..Keep on keeping on ...Always in my prayers and I am so glad that Fr. B. is hopping about again ...sincerely, - Beth, CANADA

Dear Fr. Groeschel, You and the Fine Friars and Splendid Sisters of the Franciscan Community of Renewal are in our novena devotion commemoration The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, & will be, starting next week-end, in our novena devotion to Our Lady of Knock. A BIG thank you and congratulations to the new Friars whose Ordination we were able to catch a glimpse of visiting this site, now we have more CFR Friars and Sisters to rejoice in, marvel at, love and pray for! Humbly, - Rosa, Chicago, Illinois

Dear Fr. Groeschel, I was so impressed with the message and video showing the friars taking their final vows. Wonderful! And to know that you were able to speak to them was even better. Our paper does not list the programs for the EWTN channel, so I never know when we will be blessed with your messages. You are in my daily prayers. - Arlene, Toledo, Ohio

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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