Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,
Today is Thursday, February 26. Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.
A Blessed Lent to you all!
I
was very happy to hear some good news today. Father Benedict spent the entire
day off the respirator. The machine was set to "kick in" automatically if it
sensed he needed help; but the machine sat there bored since he was breathing
like a trooper (a seventy-year-old trooper, to be exact). This is wonderful
news for which we should all be very grateful!
As I mentioned yesterday, Father is being taken off the strong sedatives and is now receiving smaller amounts of a more mild pain reliever. Nevertheless, he still has some trouble sleeping. Last night, he said a total of eight rosaries before dozing off. Perhaps in time, his sleeping cycle will regularize as the medication subsides.
Father also had the opportunity to sit in a chair without going through the excruciating pain of being lifted out of bed. He was placed in a new kind of bed which, with a push of a few buttons, actually becomes a large lounge chair! Brother Daniel said he looked and felt better being in this position. Father joked, telling Brother that since he was now sitting up, he wanted a haircut!
Once again, Father Gene celebrated a bedside Mass. Father Benedict asked that the Mass be offered for the poor. Several times he has spoken about a series of troubling drug-induced dreams he had in which he was unable to help some very poor people he met. He also prayed for those who were going to view "The Passion of the Christ", and all those who are praying for him.
Finally, Brother Peter suspects that Father is planning to write a book on his experience of suffering since the accident. No one will be surprised on the subject - Purgatory! Although he's not in a position (quite literally) to do extensive reading, he did ask for Saint Catherine of Genoa's book on Purgatory. Since Father can't speak or write or move about, only God knows what's percolating in that brain of his! He's probably on "Chapter Nine" already!
My retreat with the novices ends tomorrow. Thank you for the prayers - I didn't notice one falling asleep during any of my conferences! Certainly a minor miracle! This weekend I will be running pillar to post, so I unfortunately cannot offer an update until Monday night! When I called Joe Campo at the Grassroots office with my predicament, he was actually happy since he is experiencing a backlog of e-mails that he wants to post. So, I feel a bit better knowing you will be able to read more of the inspiring messages.
Yes, pillar to post - tomorrow night, together with many friars and sisters, postulants and novices, we view "The Passion of the Christ". Saturday morning, I'm pitch hitting for Father Benedict and speaking at a Good Counsel Communion Breakfast on Staten Island. Then, I rush back to give a conference to prepare our eight postulants who will be receiving the novice habit that evening in the Bronx. The next day, I'll be greeting parents and friends of the novices, some of whom will be arriving from France and England, and others from such exotic places like Bad Axe, Michigan! That evening, our guests will join the friars for solemn vespers and a festive meal. The next day, in the afternoon, each novice will place their hands in mine and publicly profess their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Then, after a reception, they depart for their long awaited two-week home visit - and then I collapse!
Once again, the next update will be Monday night, March 1st. Maybe by then I can report Father Benedict tap dancing in the middle of the night when be can't sleep. Of course, while saying the rosary! Enjoy the e-mails!
Until next time, if God wills. God bless you!
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May God's peace be with you Father, Hearing on the video clip-we need to look at the things of the world as a part of life in Christ -is very powerful. Our family has had great suffering & trials yet have stayed true to Him and have hope for our future. We pray in your suffering as long as it lasts that you continue to grip to His grace & follow him ---where ever it may lead you. We lift you up to Mary & ask her to wrap her mantle around you & comfort you in your pain. We've met you once at Trinity & have sort of adopted the friars & sisters as a part of our family. We pray for your community to endure this trial with courage & hope. Stay true to HIM - Cloutier, Chesterfield, New Hampshire
Dear Father: I only have seen you on EWTN in translated program, but since the first time I admired you and your preaching. Humbly I ask our Lord for heal you and to our Holy Mother that interced before the Father for your welfare. (excuse my poor english) - Hector, Colombia
Father you are such an inspiration to me! I am learning sp much though the daily reports on your progress. It is so easy to say why me when faced with a difficult situation but your example is showing me that even suffering is a gift from God and that we do not suffer in vain, but also come to learn about ourselves and our relationships with others but especially with how our suffering can help others. I continue to payer my morning and evening Prayers and my Daily Rosary and all the Masses that I attend for your recovery. I was in San Antonio Texas this weekend and attended Mass at St Mary's downtown and one of the Mass intentions was for you Father! It jsut shows that no matter where we go in the world you have touched so many that we all have you in our prayers! May God continue to Bless and keep you! - Gitthaline, Allison Park, Pennslylvania
Dear Fr. Benedict, You are in my constant prayers. I wake up early in the morning and I check the latest updates on your recovery. The recent short video the Grassroots made of you really wowed me. It is very inspirational! God Bless for a speedy recovery. - Jennifer, Bakersfield, California
I want to thank you for the video clips. They are so powerful!! We are helping our single dad son with his 2 young very active children. It is a "cross" for us older folks, but the words of Fr. Benedict helped tremendously. Oh, how my heart skips a beat to think that his current cross is helping so many souls. Get better Fr. Benedict......we need you!!! God Bless - Rosanne, Oswego, New York
Dear Father Benedict, Lord, have mercy. The Good Friday video is stupendous. I just sob. Of course, I am sad about your accident, but I have to tell you that the sobs are for joy. Each video on this site awakens a deeper love for Jesus in me. I stare, I breathe slower and the tears just roll down my cheaks. It's so true, that is, what Father Glenn said about praying the sorrowful mysteries after seeing the film. I have only seen the clips, and finally, at 49, understand the meaning of the word,"scourge". I sometimes wince at the picture in my mind. It's important to wince, and to medidate and to appreciate Him in a way that is meaningful. Will I ever get it, completely? I am not that smart. But through your tapes and books, and series on EWTN, , and with every prayer, I get closer everyday. Thank you. I shall continue to pray and as I promised, offer up a second daily rosary for my enemies for your recovery during Lent. May God bless and keep you always. - Charlotte, Chariton, Iowa
Dear Fr. Benedict and Fr. Glenn, my father at the age of 84, [also while in Florida during the winter!] fell and broke his knee cap. We all prayed and prayed for him. He did all his exercises and did everything the doctors told him to do. He's been walking fine now for two years and has more flexibility in his "bad" knee than his good knee. We know it couldn't have happened without the grace of God. We continue to pray for your recovery and feel confident that the good Lord will help you in the same way. On another note, these daily letters are the best and keep me going. Everyday when I check, if no letter has been posted, I feel a loss. I feel very special that we have a great discourse going on and I feel very "connected". I feel like I am a part of the community of brothers and sisters. Fr. Glenn has a great knack for doing this and I hope they never stop. God bless all and good night. - Carol, Kiamesha Lake, New York
Hi Father Benedict, I will pray that you sleep well at night. Very important! p.s. I have heard that "p.t." stands for "physical torture", so maybe it's good you had some days "off" from physical therapy! Rest well and "push on". God bless you and Thank you. - Mari-Ellen, McLean, Virginia
