Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From Trinity Retreat

Ever since the Song of Bernadette, one of the great religious films, based on Franz Werfel’s novel, opened in America, people have been familiar with this little girl who was desperately poor and to whom the Blessed Virgin appeared at Lourdes. Many of us developed an affection for this humble saint, although few of us knew much about her. Many people thought she looked like the actress who played her role in the movie. I’ve done a bit more research, and I learned that Bernadette was a kind of fresh kid from the streets. She lived, after all, in an abandoned prison, and although her family saw to it that the children received the sacraments, they were very poor indeed.
Bernadette died at the age of thirty-five of tuberculosis of the bone, which had apparently begun as rickets during her childhood caused by malnutrition. She was famous for her wit, which was a simple peasant shrewdness, quite capable of mimicking people who thought they were very important. She sometimes said crisp things to those in authority. A monsignor once asked her, “Do you expect me to believe that the Blessed Virgin appeared to you?” She answered, “No, I don’t expect you believe it; it’s my job just to tell you what she said.” A few years ago I visited the convent in Nevers where Bernadette lived out her life in a very austere religious community. Her body is now on view in a glass reliquary in the chapel, although originally she had been buried in the ground. It is a most impressive sight. A thin layer of wax covers her face because when her incorrupt body was taken from the grave, one of the sisters washed it with soap, which turned the skin dark. Bernadette has something to teach all of us. Who is important to God? To whom will God speak? On whom will He rely? The simple answer is, those who will faithfully give His message. Bernadette never added anything to what she saw, she never interpreted it, she just said what Our Lady had told her to say. More about Bernadette the next time.
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Dear Fr. Groeschel, Thank you and the friars at Trinity for the wonderful video that I have watched over and over again. The joy radiating from the faces of the men ordained says everything! No words could, I am sure, express their spirit for what they are doing to say yes, entirely, to Our Lord and His will. It is truly amazing that there are such men in the world, when we hear only the negative, immoral state of affairs that the media would like us to believe as the driving, primary force in our culture. How wonderful they are as examples for our youth, as well as those of us on the ascent of time, ascending to His Throne for our reward. It gives me chills... Our faith has survived so much, for thousands of years. It seems as though this blip of misery that we see in our life span is just that- a blip. It is the time and place, from all eternity, and, through all eternity, that we have been assigned to do His Holy will. And the lives of our new priests? Meant for the same thing. To give this aging spirit a lift of hope to know that saying "Yes" is being done with such enthusiasm and love for His will and Our Blessed Mother!
The past few days I have viewed the video have been touched in a way that nothing else could have. Thank you for saying yes, for not succumbing when it would have been really easy to do so through your past 7 months, and for continuing this awe-inspiring web site. You guys are great! - Juanita, Alabama

Fr Groeschel I want to tell you how much your talk has meant to me. I recently attended the Youth2000NY at Kellenberg High School. I feel so blessed to have been able to hear you speak and I have shared my experience of that day with all my friends and relatives. Your are very inspiring and I thank God that I have been privileged to share in your wisdom. God Bless you always. - Jeanne, New York

Dear Father Groeschel, I was so happy to see you on EWTN with Father Mitch Pacwa last night. Pardon my mothering instincts, but you should eat a bit more, you looked a bit peaked. But you certainly sounded like the Father Benedict that we know and love! I was especially appreciative of you candor on how we Catholics should approach the polls this November. So many Catholics that I know seem to be obsessed with the "pursuit of happiness" part of our rights, and just seem to skip the "life, liberty" part. So many of them tell us that we are just voting on one issue if we vote for life. But in essence, they are doing the same thing. I hate that phrase, "It's the economy, stupid", because that is only the pursuit of happiness part for most of us in this country. I think that voting only with the economy in mind is to vote for collaborating with evil because it makes people ignore the "life" issue. Yes, we have "social justice" issues to deal with as well, but you know Father, most of the people I know that are so concerned with the economy are really what we would call "well off".
I don't understand how Catholic people can vote for a candidate that is willing to collaborate with evil and vote for murdering the inconvenient. I hope more people will listen to you and vote accordingly! I continue to pray for you! May Our Dear Lord bless you abundantly! - Rita, Michigan

Dearest Father, just a quick note Thanking You. I read your inspiring messages each day. I saw you last night on EWTN, you look wonderful, you are truly a Blessed Gift from God, you teach us so much, how to pray, to love, forgive. I pray for you always, I know you will improve each day. I too was in an accident many yrs ago and listening to you speak last night helped me to understand what I went through at that sad time of my life, but how right you are to say we come out of it stronger in faith, everything is put into perspective. We have a MIGHTY GOD WHO LOVES HIS CHILDREN SO VERY MUCH, if only everyone knew that, what a paradise we would be living in. May God Bless you always, - Annette, New York

Dear Father, It was wonderful to see you on EWTN live last evening! We were happy to see you still have your spunky spirit and humor. There seems to be something different in your eyes now. Perhaps only those who have suffered and come near death will understand it. God bless you. We pray for your continued recovery. - Tiffany, Michigan

Dear Father Benedict, I was so happy to see you last night with Father Mitch, and that you are able to teach us once again. I love EWTN and your teachings. I am an Episcopalian, but getting close to crossing the Tiber. Stay well Father you are in my prayers. - Lonnie, Vermont

Dear Father Benedict. We saw you with Father Mich tonight on EWTN and were astounded to see how great you looked and could see that the great Catholic mind is sharp as a tack. What a thrill. And the message to the politicians is crucial. There is a big problem convincing old time Catholics to vote pro-life. In Boston, my home territory, my Irish Catholic friends are still supporting Teddy K and his ilk even though they violate most of what Christ taught. As converts we are working on them, but their grandparents came over from Ireland, worked in the brick yards and they continue to vote for a pro-death Democrat even if the candidate was a serial rapist. Only to pray...............loved the remark of the 130 year old voting Catholic who died at 69.........fits the thesis of the ghosts of the past haunting the grand kids. God Bless - Bob and Sylvia, Pennsylvania

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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