Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From The Hospitail

March 27, 2004

Since my last communication, I ended up taking a step backwards, to the hospital, from where I had been for several weeks.
I left the nursing home sadly, and with your prayers, hopefully I will return to the nursing home in the next several days.
For some reason, I have a case of anemia, and they can't figure out why. But, like everything else, we put it in the hands of God.
It's understandable that when trials occur, and the trial seems to be coming to an end, we expect, God to send blue skies everywhere. The trial is seen as an exception to life, and God has to right the exception.
Indeed, that's not the case. Trials can be long and unrelieved. I remember the very devout seminarian, Eugene Hamilton (cf. A Priest Forever, published by Our Sunday Visitor) telling me of the disappointments and bad test results and setbacks, and how he clung to the Cross of Christ in the midst of all that.
Our Lord was to lead Eugene to ordination in the hour of death, but he only got there because he trusted God bravely, prayerfully, When troubles come to us, the question is, do we wish to trust God, or do we choose to feel frustrated by the silly thought that He has forgotten us?

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

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Dear Fr. Benedict, I have been offering 9 Memorares each day and asking Our Blessed Mother to heal you through the intercession of Blessed Mother Teresa as I have been told she used to offer 9 Memorares when she needed something important. Please God you will be healed completely and quickly through Bl Mother Teresa's intercession. I'm sorry to hear you are back in hospital I'll look forward to seeing you next message on the internet when you are better. May God Bless and heal you and console you with His peace and joy.-Catherine, Sydney, Australia

Hi Father Ben, I am so sorry to hear about your "anemia" and the need to return to the hospital. Maybe you need a little "vino" , the grapes pressed by the feet of my grandfather, Joseph B.! You will be in my prayers.-Viginia

Father, I attend adoration on Saturdays and monday evenings I will place you in the Tabernacle.-Theresa, West Babylon, New York

Dear Fr. Glenn; You cannot know this but many years ago I was on retreat with you and on a table you had laid the picture of many saints, one of which none of us who attended could recognize. Just before we truly began our retreat, we asked you who the woman was. Your response just has stayed with me forever. "She said BS after every word but that doesn't mean she wasn't a saint." I totally understood then that God, Our Father never asked us to be perfect but only to desire to be perfect. You cannot know how much stress that that moment relieved for me. We are all human after all. We all have faults, but with God's magnificent grace we can overcome anything. I pray tonight that Fr. Ben will overcome this lastest trail in his journey. love in the prayer of union. -Dorie, Monroe, New York

We send you our prayers an;d good wishes for rapid healing, from all of us on Sloane Square, London. God bless you.-Sam, Wimbleton, London, United Kingdom

Dear Fr. Benedict, Praise God, you are getting better! My little son John-Paul(8) tries to remember to pray for priests daily, and he is praying for YOU also. You once signed a book " A Priest Forever" to my five sons, Michael, Stefan, Christian, David, and John-Paul. I have passed it along now to Christian (21) who is in the process of discerning God's call on his life.......he wants to live radically for God, but is not clear as to God's specific call on his life. Please remember him in your prayers as you offer up your sufferrings in union with those of Christ. We love you and wish you many more years.-Suzanne, Mason, Michigan

Dear Father Benedict, Lord, have mercy. I am glad to hear that you are making progress in your recovery. We are still praying, and I believe it is now a permanent part of the daily routine,which also includes a visit to this web site. At a very dark time in society, this site is a glowing light shining with the faithful gathering together and sharing their thoughts and prayers. Sometimes I feel isolated and think that I am alone in my beliefs. I am strenghtened each day by what you write in your messages and the privilege to read the emails sent to you. Thank you . God bless and keep you always- Charlotte, Chariton, Iowa

Jesus, Mary and Joseph pray for us. I too join with them and all the members of the Franciscan Friars along with the wonderful team who look after this site and who work diligently to keep us little ones of Jesus and Mary up to date. My love to each and every one of you. You have enriched my life beyone measure. Please do not ever take your calendar off the Internet. As I relisten and reread of the miracles of heaven bestowed on all of us through the sufferings of Father Benedict. Love being the greatest force on earth you are all surrounded with the love of each and every one of us out here who daily visit Franciscan Friars.com. -Hope, Canada

My dear Fr B. You are doing such great apostolic work by cooperating with God's grace to get well for us. Your illness has brought so many of us together as we pray in brotherly unison for your speedy and complete recovery. See how much we believe, Father... and how very much you are loved.-Mary, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey

Dear fr. Benedict, dear fr. Glenn, once again I send you a message to confirm that I keep you and the other friars in my prayers. It is good to read about the steps of recovery. Today fr. Benedict used the word "calamity" in his message. The "calamity" in my life, my husband leaving us, and the intense grief caused by it, both for me and my sons, urges me everyday not to give up hope, to try my utmost to give my children a cosy, sheltering, warm home, be it without their father. Without my faith, without the help and support of those who care for us and pray for us, somewhere nearby or somewhere geographically distant, I wouldn't be able to cope. But now I do, day by day, strengthened by the force of prayer, mutual as well as individual, and by the love of our Father. Wishing you all the best. - Els, Belgium

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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