Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From The Hospital #5

The whole experience of being hospitalized and debilitated gives us a tremendous opportunity to appreciate what others mean in our lives - most importantly our attentive relatives and friends. This is one of the great blessings of belonging to a vibrant, functioning religious community. The people at the hospital expressed to me their amazement at the concern of the brothers and sisters of our community. The presence of your own immediate family is an invaluable gift at this time.

Among other gifts are the wonderful staff members and personnel you meet in the hospital. I have found that greeting them with a smile and expressed gratitude brought forth the most remarkable concern and kindness both in Florida and in the New York area. The kindliness and care of literally dozens of health care workers will always remain in my memory. It is worth mentioning that the vast majority of these workers were not Anglos - they come from the Orient, China, and the Philippines, from Africa, from the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Some were more recent arrivals from Europe. The willingness to do most unpleasant tasks and the kindness that brought them around at the end of the day to say goodnight with a cheerful smile was most encouraging. The care of physicians and technological staff is all the more impressive when one considers the burdens that they carry.

And finally there is the presence of God. In the several weeks of strong pain medication, it is hard to focus your mind; but you become aware that faith is not a human accomplishment, but rather a response to a gift. Through all the haze I recall a presence, sometimes like a person standing in the wind and rain saying: "Do not be afraid, I will be with you".

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

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Dear Fr. Benedict: How wonderful to read your letters as you continue to improve...I cannot wait to read your book (and I have no doubt there will be one)on your physical, emotional and spiritual journeys these past months since your accident. There are so many of us who followed your recovery through the "updates" and we are most grateful. However, viewing the small doses of your Good Friday video was wonderful. I have ordered a copy and am anxious to view it with my prayer group as soon as it arrives. Your voice is what captured my attention initially when I heard you for the first time on the radio. I could not get enough of your voice. I listened all the time on EWTN and ordered your videos on The Seven Virtues. Then I read a book of yours and I couldn't get enough of reading what you wrote. Two years ago several of us from our church went to see you in Lexington. It was (and remains) the highlight of my spiritual awakening. You have touched so many people this way I am sure. We are so thankful that you are doing so well. We love you so much. God is good! - Anne, Richmond, Kentuckey

Dear Father Benedict: It is the 3rd Sun. of Lent and I have just finished listening to your program on HOPE on EWTN. Father I want to tell you how much your talks on Hope have helped me. After your accident your words on hope kept coming to mind and I prayed and never gave up hope that God would make your well again (I know it was God working through the doctors and nurses that kept you alive) Your words of Hope also have helped me to have hope that my son who has been away from the faith for 30yrs. will one day come home again. I celebrated my 80th birthday last June, so I may not be here when he does come back but I have hope that somehow I will know it and he will know that I know. God Bless You Father and keep up the good fight. - Alice, Rochester, New York

I am praying for you not only because I love you - but also for selfish reasons. I've only been a catholic for a couple years - and it is voices like yours that keep me wanting to be more like Jesus. So get well and get back to work! - Lisa, Goldendale, Washington

Dear fr.benedict, I'am very glad to hear you are getting better... I have always respected your preaching and your teaching, i have returned to the catholic faith after being away for almost 20 years, hearing you speak helped me make that journey home!!.... please get well and know you are in my prayers daily!!, blessings from st. anthony. your friend in christ.- Mark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

WOW! What a beautiful bunch of MEN for God! That's a GREAT video. It fills you up with such joy and hope. You are all so very "lucky" and blessed. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful part of LIFE with us! Keep up the Good Work! May the Lord abundantly bless you on your path. Fr. Groeschl, you ARE in great company! Bless you.- Pilar , Land O Lakes, Florida

Fr. Benedict, Thanks be to God! Thank you for being so strong & showing us by your example how to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I love your message on suffering. Lots of times, I failed miserably because I don't want suffering or I don't carry my crosses very well. But here I start again with your encouragement & with Jesus at my side, I offer my being for the glory of God. Press on! As always, your're in my prayers!- Anna, Springfield, Virginia

Praise God. Our prayers have been answered but we will never stop praying for your recovery. I am a recent convert to the Church and prior to my coming into the Church I saw you on EWTN several times. Seeing you and hearing you speak has helped me and, I am sure, others to understand so many things that my previous faith never could explain. God love you, Father, and we pray for your continuing recovery.- Marilyn, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Dear Father Benedict, God bless you . I am so thrilled to hear you are speaking again. I am blown away with the beautiful e-mails from all the people that love you so much. I have a number of cronic illnesses. I am trying to deal with the physical and mental parts of being sick. I know you pray for all of us,as we pray for you. Thanks for being so faithful to Our Lord. -Mary, Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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