Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

Today is Friday, January 16. Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.

I am getting this message to you earlier than planned since I have been told that Fr. Benedict is being operated on at this moment. The time now is 8:00 pm (EST).

From what I know tonight they are operating on Father's right arm. This will be the second procedure on the right arm. Last night's operation was simply "step one". Besides attending to his right arm, the doctors will also work on the right leg which was broken in two places. The doctors will also be stitching up the open incision in his abdomen which was opened when they had to do an exploratory looking for the source of an acid build up. This has been brought to an acceptable level with medication. Finally, they will be inserting small filters to prevent blood clots from traveling to vital organs. So you see how much your prayers are needed.

Come, Holy Spirit, come with your healing power! Descend now for the glory of Your name!

I received a call this morning from India to tell me that the relic of Blessed Mother Teresa, who was a personal friend of Father Benedict, will be brought to his bedside this Sunday. We have heard from many people from places near and far telling us that Father is being lifted up in prayer. My God, how can I and all the friars thank you?

On an interesting and inspiring note, I was told today that Fr. John Lynch and David Burns, Fr. Benedict's two traveling companions were finally able to find Father's religious habit! It was cut from his battered body by the medics on the site of the accident. Where it ended up was a complete mystery to us all. Although I cannot give all the details, we are happy that we have Father's habit. Our religious habits are blest and very special to us. You may know that our habit was designed by Saint Francis of Assisi to resemble a cross. Although Father is not wearing his habit in his bed of pain, he is indeed, at this moment stretched out and conformed to Christ upon the cross. Unlike Our Lord he is not surrounded by those who are seeking to take his life but working to save it. May we be in their company, invisible, yet very much present, spiritually supporting them.

We have received many positive comments about how we can extend a helping and healing hand to Fr. Benedict. For those who are not Catholic or even Christian, they can unite themselves to our efforts through prayer, confession (admitting faults and mistakes), forgiveness and assistance to the very poor and others in need. How pleasing this is to God. What a way to prove the sincerity and depth of our holy desire! Like the men we heard about in today's Gospel who carried the paralytic to the crowded house and lowered them before the Lord, so we too must exert some effort in this regard. If we must struggle to find time to pray, say we're sorry or give alms - good! Blessed Mother Teresa would often say, "we must give to it hurts". The God-man gave this way, so too godly men like Fr. Benedict. Now it's our turn.

As you see, you are now able to send a brief personal message to Fr. Benedict. Please God, he will spend many months in recovery reading them - with a mended body and a grateful heart. Please, God!.

Fr. Glenn Sudano, C.F.R.
Community Servant
Franciscans of the Renewal

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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