Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

Today is Monday, February 23. Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.

Thank you for making a trip all the way to New York to visit Father Benedict!

As you already know we do our best to be discreet when giving information out about Father. The vast majority of people are quite respectful and know it's best to just keep a distance. Thank God we haven't received those shiny balloons that say "Get Well Soon!" or flower arrangements that take up half of a small apartment. The retreat house does get Mass cards which are placed in a basket before the altar. Anyway, we know you understand that simply for Father's sanity, we are careful to protect his privacy so that he can quickly heal.

Br. Peter, one of our friars from England, is now assisting Br. Daniel taking turns at the hospital. He told me today he was standing outside Father Benedict's room when a visiting priest approached him. He excitedly asked, "Brother, are you in Father Benedict's community?" Brother Peter stood there stone faced and said, "Uh, yes..." The priest then said, "tell me, how is he doing?" Brother Peter was hoping the priest wasn't going to ask when Fr. Benedict was going to be moved back to New York. He simply said with his proper English accent, "Father, he's doing splendid". I could just see Brother Peter peeking over the priest's shoulder looking at Father B lying in bed! Well, the priest quickly excused himself and took off. Brother Peter breathed a long silent sigh. Close one, Brother Peter!

When the friars walked into the room this morning around nine o'clock, Father Benedict greeted them, mouthing the words, "Okay, let's get to work!" They knew what that meant - slowly stretching his arms and legs. Guess who wants to get out of the hospital yesterday? It appears the whole idea of getting a smaller trach so Father can speak may be out of the picture - this just might slow down his progress in getting entirely off the ventilator. This must happen before Father moves to another facility for physical therapy.

Another somewhat humorous incident happened today. If you know Father personally, you may get a kick out of it. Father mouthed the word, "money", to Br. Daniel. Br. Daniel was obviously confused and questioned, "what money?" He called Brother over and slowly explained that he wanted to give a little something to the nurses-aid who sits by Father's bed during the night. Brother Daniel said, "Father, I don't think you're supposed to tip the nurses-aid". Father then mouthed the words, "THIS IS NEW YORK!" He's too much, isn't he?

I called Joe Campo today and he read some of the E-mails to me. He told me, "some of these bring me to tears". He's right. So many are so powerful and profound, I could simply read them to the novices instead of giving them my own retreat conferences. I reminded both Br. Daniel and Br. Peter to read Father some of your messages; no doubt they will be "balm for both his body and soul".

Our retreat will end on Friday afternoon; in the evening we're going to watch the movie, "The Passion of the Christ". I sense that this movie is going to do much good for many people. Here is a wonderful example how technology and modern media can be a part of the "New Evangelization". The Enemy has held the movie industry hostage for many years. Perhaps this will be the beginning of a liberation and a new era in movie making. Right from the beginning, the Internet was immediately pounced upon and is still in the devil's grip. Tonight I'm typing this directly on a computer in the retreat house office. At home in the friary, we use word-processors, and therefore aren't "on line". Three times in the last twenty minutes I had to "X" a sexually suggestive invitation to death. This is no doubt a crime. This Thursday the media will be given the information about Church related abuse cases - fifty years worth! Yet, the popular press, some lawyers and the like will stand silent if we complain about this type of aggressive pornography!

Friends, do see "The Passion of the Christ", and tell everyone to see it. See it twice, perhaps three times. Hollywood doesn't know what's going to hit them! May every lash given His Sacred Body make us wince and weep, yet may it only serve to remind us that as He suffered then, He suffers now in His Mystical Body. May His Passion strengthen us and teach us how to suffer. Father B is doing this as are so many. When our time of passion comes, may we suffer well; and we will - if we suffer with Him.

Until next time, 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, I don't think your doing your purgatory. . .I think, like Christ, you are doing ours. Love - Marie, wilton, Michigan

Fr. Benedict, all of us at Priests for Life continue to join you in the solidarity of prayer and suffering. We thank you for your constant witness to the sanctity of life, and we recall at this moment those beautiful words of Cardinal Cooke, which you also know so well, "The "gift of life," God's special gift, is no less beautiful when it is accompanied by illness or weakness." During these weeks of your suffering, we have had special opportunity to be grateful for all you have done for Priests for Life, and to recall many special moments, such as when you put my chasuble on me at my ordination. We look forward to your continued recovery and service to the Gospel of Life. - Fr. Frank Pavone, Staten Island, New York

Aloha Father Groeschel: Glad to read you're doing better. We pray for you daily. We need you. With much aloha, - Esther, Honolulu, Hawai

Fr.Benedict, What good news in Fr.Sudano's message tonight. Other nights When I read his message and the email, I shed many tears but tonight will be nothing but joy! I hope you're doing the right thing - it is so cold in NYC now and I was hoping that you would stay in Orlando and enjoy a few days of warm weather. We continue to pray for you and offer up our 78 & 81 yr old pains and aches. You have lifted us so many times when we got discouraged with the nonsense going on in our Churches. We hold on because of Priests like you (& your order.) You are in our prayers daily and sometimes hourly. Thank our gracious God that He healed you and left you with us.- Janice, Palm Desert, California

You are home. Thanks be to God. I pray for you and the indivdual who was responsible for your accident. What a miracle. One little "grey mouse" in a hospital bed getting us all on our knees. - Dolores, Clarion, Indiana

Father, I just found out about your accident and thank God He wasn't ready for you yet! We still need you, and He knows it. Not too long ago, I read your book "Stumbling blocks..." and I can not tell you how much I learned from it. Thank you and God bless you in your recovery. We are praying for you! - Tim, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia

Dear Father Benedict, Just a few days before you were hit, I was hit with the pink slip. Now, I know your injuries, registered a higher magnitude on the physiological Rickter scale, than mine. Nevertheless, our sufferings do have some similarities. Among a host of things, you’re encumbered by the respirator. In my case, it’s the employment checks. We both hate these things. But without them, we would both expire one way or another, either through trauma or bankruptcy. Since your accident, I’ve wondered how God could have allowed these things to happen to a good Friar and a daily Communicant? I recall on one of your programs, you asked – Why do bad things happen to good people? Your answer was a resounding, “I don’t know!” I believe the reason has something to do with suffering. For example, if I give my kitty, Boomer, the winning lottery ticket, all he would do is bat it around the kitchen floor a few times, then try to eat it. You and I, on the other hand, would put our winnings to good use. I believe suffering is God’s winning lottery ticket. He knows good people will know how to put their suffering to good use. I may be all wet, but that’s the best, I could come up with. Please know that you are constantly in my prayers. - Dana, Lynn, Massachusetts

Dear, Dear Father Groeschel, Give me your address, I'm sending chicken soup as soon as I get the go-ahead. Until then, I'll pray, but I'm not taking off my apron. Blessings be yours forever. - Marsha, Framingha, Massachusetts

Hi Father Benedict and Fr. Glenn - As one who just attended Mount 2000, it sure was an optimistic, uplifting time as you said! To see all those young people who are so excited about their faith is almost overwhelming. Father Glenn, I was so hoping to meet you in person! I check your website every day and thoroughly enjoy your updates. I did get to talk to a few of your brothers - hope they passed on my messages that I am praying for all of you during this difficult time. I really felt for you. It was so encouraging to see so many of you and your talks were great.The Christendom students who attended with me got a lot out of them. Thanks for your holiness and inspiration and may God bless all of you! - Jody, Frederick, Maryland

Dear Fr.Benedict, My family and I continue to pray for your complete recovery. My sister and I both came into the Church in 2002. EWTN and your evangelization was a large part of our journey.I was privileged to attend Mass and hear you speak at a conference in Hamburg, N.Y. a few weeks after my baptism and confirmation. We need your wisdom and love to guide us through these very strange times we are living in. God bless you and please recover quickly! We love you. - Teresa, Cheektowaga, New York

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