Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From the Hospital:

Message for Easter Vigil/Easter

One of the truly great changes in the Church in the last fifty years has been the reform of the Easter Vigil liturgy. Incredibly, I recall as an altar boy arriving at church at 6:30 on Holy Saturday morning for the Easter Vigil. At that early hour one solitary priest and the acolytes began the Easter Vigil and Mass, which would usually take place at record speed in the presence of several devout elderly women who never missed anything in the church.

The goal of the interminably long Latin readings and the lighting of the new fire seemed to be the production of Easter water. This water was blessed in huge galvanized tubs, and as the liturgy came to an end at about 8:15, a curious spectacle would ensue. The church would begin to fill with all sorts of devout people carrying a vast assortment of bottles-milk bottles, blue milk of magnesia bottles, and others that gave rise to the suspicion that they might once have held alcoholic spirits. Later when I served Mass at the Dominican motherhouse, I remember another experience: a feeling of exultation as the sisters chanted the Gloria and the convent bells announced Christ's Resurrection. Unfortunately, this was twenty-three hours before Easter morning.

The Easter Vigil, as it is now celebrated in the evening of Holy Saturday, with the new fire blazing dramatically in the church courtyard, cannot fail to fill faithful souls with something of the mystery and glory of Christ. This year I will celebrate the Vigil alone, reading the liturgical prayers and looking forward to celebrating Mass with my fellow patients the next morning in the hospital.

Father Mariusz, of our community, will be principal celebrant, and I will be seated in a wheelchair with still broken bones and many other problems. I expect, however, to be just as happy that Christ is risen. And I can't complain, because I remember celebrating the Vigil once in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. After that liturgy I knelt in the cave of the Cross in the sepulchre and it meant so much that Christ is risen.

Being in the hospital, especially for a long time, remind us that we are on a journey and that we have here no lasting home. Christ calls us to a world where there is no mourning or weeping or crying anymore. How happy we will be then that Christ is risen!

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

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Dear Fr. Groeschel, I remember as a child in Pleasantville, NY, spending Holy Saturday morning walking up to Holy Innocents Church with my mother (at the time, a non-Catholic) grandmother, aunts, brothers and cousin, with our empty mayonnaise jars to get our year's supply of holy water which was kept in the kitchen cupboard and used whenever there was an illness, or in my grandmother's case, a thunder storm. (She would give us all a spoonful of holy water during storms). We would come home, color eggs and then back to church for confession in the afternoon. Later as an adult, I thought maybe I was wrong, how could we get our holy water on Saturday when it wasn't blessed until the vigil at night! Thank you for clarifying the mystery. We have all been praying for you, especially my grandmother who is now 98. She was thrilled when I told her about the hospital video and when I told her your voice was good and strong. She said you remind her of her brother, Walter. Have a blessed Easter, Father.-Cathy, Chambersburg, Pennslyvania

Dear Fr.Benedict, I am the individual with superfluous university degrees who was caught in the deep despair of agnosticism for many years, because I was unable to resolve the matter of faith.I spent many days and nights in torment over what appeared to be the pointlessness of existence often frought with pain until, by the grace of God I found EWTN, and in particular,your programs.Somehow things you said helped me to find pieces of light and Truth.I began to grasp the mystery of faith,and my life was transformed.I was horror stricken when I heard of your accident,because I know first hand that you are a conduit of hope and a guide to the Way for lost souls such as I was.I have prayed consistently with my heart for your full recovery.May you stand up again this Easter season with renewed strength,and when you are fully well,come back to all of us who look for your light.Thank you for writing to us on this web site,despite your pain and the arduousness of your medical regimen. With gratitude and prayers,-Elizabeth O, in Atherton,California

Dear Father Groeschel, I watched your address of last Good Friday today on EWTN. You have so much to offer in truth, healing and humor amidst moral decay. May Christ, Who gave His very life for us on this day, send healing grace to you in your time of trouble. I know that you take all well as His gift to you, but allow me to pray for you and your continued words of invitation to all in this life that we may all begin to take up our crosses with you on that lonely, yet glorious, trek to Calvary. God bless you.-James, Tampa, Florida

Dear Father Benedict: I send you my love and best wishes for your recovery. I thank you for your gifts to us, the faithful. I lost my husband 4 years ago, and listening to your words and seeing you on EWTN have helped me through this crisis of loss in my life and saved me from despair. Your sufferings will help save many more souls who are also desperately in need. God bless you. Sincerely,-Mary Ellen, Corinth, Texas

I will pray to St Josemaria for your complete recovery. You have been instrumental in my faith journey.-William, Alexandria, Virginia

Dear Father, How wonderful to see you on the video! You look GREAT! You're a real trooper! I met you on the streets of Washington DC several years ago while I was waiting for the March for Life to begin. It was a real thrill for me as you were on my "list" of people I wanted to meet before I die. Voila! You were just what I expected you to be - friendly and gracious. My prayers are with you. Thank you for all that you have done and will do!-Elizabeth, Amherst, New York

Sometimes there aren't any words; this is one of those times. Godspeed.-Diane G., Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Dear Father Benedict, The Mansford family send you thoughts and prayers during your continuing recovery. It is good to hear from Brother Emannuel of your progress. May God grant you patience,peace and joy through his risen son - Jesus Christ.Yours in His love the-Mansfords, Bedfordshire, England

Dear Father Groeschel, Because of you and the friars I've made my profession of faith for the secular order franciscan and I'm so happy I did It's now Good Friday and I hope you are feeling well. As with everyone you are in my prayers and I hope to be able to truly meet you as I've seen you at a distance ie. Men's Day of Prayer Thank you for my motivation in taking the vow of a franciscan. May God continue to hold in His arms and take care of you. God Bless.- Dennis, Jamaica, New York

Dear Father Benedict, I send you wishes from myself and our Oratory group for a blessed EASTER. This wish is extended to you and all of your friars and sisters of the Franscan Friars of the Renewal. I was so happy to receive your Good Friday video yesterday and I am anxious to view it, together with my husband today, Good Friday. May God continue to richly bless you and bring you to full health. Yours in Christ, Michelle, Canada

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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