Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,
Today is Wednesday, February 11. Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.
Today
I had the opportunity to speak to Father Benedict. I must admit it isn't easy
to speak to someone on the phone who doesn't respond. I could hear the respirator
and some beeping in the background. Brother Thomas said he would place the phone
to Father's ear, but nothing indicated that Father was there, let alone listening
- nothing but a muted hissing and a measured beep.
I did my best to assure Father that we were with him in this difficult time. I promised him I would do my best to get him back to New York for therapy as soon as the doctor gave us the green light. I spoke about this morning's meeting of the community council and other business-type things. I also told him about your daily "visits to his room" via the Internet. This might have confused him a bit since the friaries don't have computers! I also told him you are praying for him every day.
When Brother Thomas came back on the phone I asked, "did he hear me"? "Sure", he said. "Are you sure? What makes you say that?" I questioned. "He was nodding his head; I'm sure he understood everything."
The fact of the matter is - I didn't feel Father was listening. I felt like I was talking into a dead phone. Yet, Brother Thomas told me, "He's listening!" There's a lesson to be learned here. How many times do we feel God isn't listening to us? How many times do we doubt - and during tough times want to scream at the sky, "IS ANYONE OUT THERE?" Yet, indeed He is there.
The Scriptures tell us that Christ is our brother, "the first-born of many brothers". God becomes our brother. This is the difference between Christian faith and any other faith. God became like us "in all things but sin"; He Himself experienced the silence of the Father. While at times we feel like we're talking to ourselves or into a dead phone, He tells us, "I know how you feel, but believe me, keep talking, He's listening!"
To have faith means to know that God's silence does not mean His absence. In fact, for the Christian, it's quite the opposite, because both life and love teaches us that the deepest communion is often accompanied by the deepest silence. Consider the intimate silence of a husband resting with his wife, the tender silence of a mother nursing her infant, and the rich silence of adoration before a glowing monstrance.
Could it be that God is so quiet because He's so close? Certainly this is not how we feel or how Father feels being broken, battered, and seemingly abandoned. Yet, with the gift of faith, we know that it is at these very times that God is quite close; and as with his Son, dares not whisper a word lest He break the silence of this sweet intimate embrace.
Today Father rested much of the day; he was in his chair for close to two hours. This day also marks one month since his tragic accident. At that time we feared the worst, but today we hope for the best. As we will all soon see the movie, "The Passion of The Christ", may we not forget those, Father Benedict and others in our lives, who are living it.
Until tomorrow, if God wills. God bless you!
Fr. Glenn Sudano,
C.F.R.
Community Servant (superior)
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
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Fr. Benedict, Take your time and hurry up! :) Get well soon--I
have some apologetics questions for you!!! :) Being Catholic in a public high
school is challenging--but you are an inspiration! So keep on truckin'...and
we'll both do our best to be patient! I am so glad, though, to find that you
are doing better. The first time I read of your improvement, I was ready to
dance, even though I don't even know you! I check the updates every day!
- Allison, Liverpool, New York
Dear Father Benedict: I just wanted you to know that our prayers are with you because, although we want you to be with Our Lady and Our Lord in Heaven - not quite yet, please God. We need you here so much! Your ministry through EWTN, your books and engagements are anxiously awaited and are a constant source of inspiration and a deepening of our Love of Jesus. Thank you for your life's work and your Priesthood! We were with your Brothers at a Youth 2000 retreat last weekend and they were amazing. Our guys really loved Brother Agostino, Fr. Bob and the rest. My Godson, Jesse wanted to go home with them and when they called the youth who considered a vocation during the retreat, he went up along with 2 others of our group! Our Faith is in good hands, thanks to the faith of yourself and others who have handed it on, whole and intact. Praise be Jesus Christ and may you get well soon! - Alice, Susanville, California
Fr. B., greetings from Omaha! I'm a graduate of Mount St. Mary's Seminary. On behalf of all "Mounties" I wish you a speedy recovery and consolation in your suffering. Pray for us!! - Fr. Dan, Omaha
Dear Father Ben, It's been about 2 weeks since I sent you a get well message. I se by the letters I print out every few days or so that you are improving each day. Not as fast as you'd like I'll bet, but you are improving. That's a good thing. Our youngest Granddaughter turned 4 on the 7th., and she says little prayers for you. She has no idea who you are. I told her that a car hit you and now you have lots and lots of owies. She asked if God would make you better. I told her we have to pray and ask God if He will. She said right there a little prayer. I pray for you too Father. Be patient, pray and be good. It'll happen. You'll see. God Bless. - Sandy, Menasha, Wisconsin
Father Benedict, you've spoken to my heart so many times and touched my life with yours via EWTN. Though I'm not Catholic, I know of your worth to the Kingdom on earth. I pray God's speed for a fully recovery for you. I check on you daily. May God be praised! - Suzie, Sacramento, California
Praise God for his healing powers who is saving one of the men of the century who has inspired us so much as we have converted to the Catholic faith. Fr. is such an inspiration as a truly holy warrior for Jesus who is so much needed to help the battle against the culture of death. And you brothers are truly wonderful for your devotion and faithfulness to Father. - Robert, St Peters, Pennsylvania
All our prayers go with you father in all your trials and we pray that you will be up and about very soon. All god'sblessings we love you. - Jennifer, Trinidad
Our Oratory of Divine Love group has been praying for your recovery and comfort in Christ Jesus’ great Love. We are all members of St Luke’s Parish here in Maple Ridge Canada. Besides our group and personal prayers for you, we have asked our Pastor, Fr. Amador Abundo, to offer a special Mass for your intentions. Your inspiration and spiritual direction has helped each of us to grown closer to Jesus. May He bless you abundantly in your time of suffering. - Jim, Canada
Dear Father Benedict CFR Greetings and prayers from all the members of the London Chapter of the Cardinal Cooke Guild. Special prayers for your complete recovery tomorrow, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes: the World Day of Prayer for Sick - as designated by the Holy Father. May our Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around you and give you the powerful protection of her intercessory prayers - Jim, United Kingdom
Dear Father Benedict, Que Dios te de la salud y la fortaleza! My family and I are praying for you. The news of your accident made our hearts so heavy. You may not know who we are, but you are part of our family. Thank you so much for bringing Jesus and His loving message to us through EWTN. May our Loving Mother protect you and may God heal you and permit us to see and hear you again. May Jesus give you His PEACE!! Your children in Christ Jesus. - Rosemary, Ricardo, and Ricardito Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
