Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From the Hospital:

Message for Easter Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Yesterday I had visits with the two people-Father John Lynch and Dave Burns-who were with me on the evening of my accident on January 11. Together we went over some of the events of that terrible evening and my very narrow escape from death. I have been wondering about the things for which I could be thankful to God, and we began to list many things: I did not have a severe brain injury or a bad deformity of the face or mouth; I seem to be recovering even the use of my limbs; and today the doctor told me he thinks I may be able to regain use of my elbow and, consequently, my right arm.

All these things are blessings in a situation that may look like a terrible calamity. It is always important to remind ourselves that God does not do evil, but that He keeps evil from becoming the worst. There are natural disasters like tornadoes; there are disasters, like wars, that are caused by human beings; and there are accidents, where human beings in their functioning miscalculate or misdirect something. Why blame these things on God?

As I look back, I can see the many blessings I have received, and I do not really want to ask: Why? As Padre Pio, a man I so much admire, used to say: Ask rather: What am I to do? What can I do with the rest of my years or months? Of course the real Christian wants to do what God wants him to do. Perhaps the saint is the one who wants this to a perfect degree. The struggling sinner like me wants this only imperfectly. Thus we have certain kinds of unhappiness, which the saints do not have. But we'll get there someday.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

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Dear Father, Our prayers continue for you and all your health problems (they could be worse!) please keep that in mind. It struck me today as I was reading all the loving messages; yours and all those to you, that something very special is happening here on this website. I am sure it has occured to you that you have an enourmous following, but we are all seperated from one another, yet by your accident and suffering, we who love Christ, our Catholic Church, and you, are all drawn together into a whole joining. I am not expressing myself to well. As if we are all little splinters that are being fused together into a single log through your suffering and Jesus. I am not sure why but it is very uplifting to read all the sweet things the other e-mailers are saying to you and especially learning through your daily messages to us. God Bless you dear one.- Janet, Lake Villa, Illinois

Dear Father Benedict. I just received this site from a friend and am so grateful to see your own progress report as I hadn't heard for a while how you fared. Just yesterday, I was re-listening to one of your tapes about the "Real" crisis in the Church, and it occurred to me that the Lord has asked this suffering of you FOR the Church. I pray that God will strengthen you in patience for the rehabilitation period, the frustration of the captivity of non-functioning body-parts. We need your wisdom and teaching, but maybe we need more your witness of suffering. May God comfort you in grace and peace.-Bonnie, Apostolatus Uniti, Inc.

Dearest Father Groeschel, Father Glenn, Friars, Sisters, Joe Campo and all the great young men who put so much love and effort into this website, Happy Easter to all of you. God continues to grant many blessings and graces through your work. Thank you so much for keeping this "ministry" running. What a grateful witness I have been of our Lord's unending mercy and grace. I encourage all those reading this email not to forget the Divine Mercy Novena this week. What a wondrous expression of love and humility to continue to pray for mercy.-Ramona, Orlando, Florida

Dear Fr. Benedict, your life has truly been an inspiration for me. It is a blessing that we still are privileged to see and hear your programmes on EWTN. Thank God!!! May our Blessed Mother, the angels and the saint continue to intercede for you as your health continue to improve. I love you, God loves you more. Always, Vivienne, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.

Dear Father Benedict, He is Risen! Alleluia! I am still praying for you and want to thank you for your inspired words on this web site. My mother can not get these daily updates, so I send her copies. She has told me how she uses them as meditations during her own recovery from an involved surgery. We have been praying for her and she has gotten good news in the last few days of how things are looking UP! Look up! to the risen Lord and His holy, blessed Mother. I agree, "look to the Resurrection." My prayers for your recovery continue. May the risen Lord continue to bless you and heal you and all the CFR community.-Janet, East Haddam, Conn.

You are such a blessing Fr Benedict, why do I love you so much. I think you seem like a child to me. Be stubborn as a child and get completely well. We will continue to pray for you in Catholic Chat on the internet. The new missionary land.-Barbara, Huntington, New York

Dear Fr Groeshel, I listened to your message from your hospital bed. It was a joy to hear you and see you. I'm glad that God gave you back to us. We need priests like you to preach the word of God to all the world as you do. Thank you for giving me tears of joy for this Easter holyday.-Anne Marie, Shenandoah, Pennslyvania

Dear Father, Like your other "children", I check the website each day for your messages. Do you know that the sound of your voice is as beautiful as your instruction? I wrote you long ago when you were here in Florida and selfishly asked you to try hard to stay with us here on earth so this soul of mine can continue to meditate on your words: you just have a way of getting through to me/us who require a softer head and heart. Thank you for continuing your teaching from the bed. Thank you for explaining life so clearly and for giving all of us someone we can rely on to teach the Catholic faith and explain the steps to meaningful living. Can you imagine, there you were in your bed of pain and my thoughts were "I need you". I thank God and you for your being with us and praying for us. Love,-Martha, ClearWater, Florida

Blessings of this beautiful Easter season to you dear Fr. Benedict...I too have seen you on EWTN esp on Good Friday and it is always a blessing for us viewers...thank you for writing us from the hospital thru your pain & suffering....May our Lord thru his passion, death & Ressurection heal those broken bones of yours and bring you home from hospital soon....in the meantime, you are in "hospital ministry" where there is always great need...May our risen Lord comfort you dear Father...we love you-Mary, Philly, Pennslyvania

Dear Father Benedict: Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Thanks to you, and a few other priests, I have come to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. I was ordained in the Antiochian Orthodox Church; via my watching your programs or listening to you on EWTN, The Holy Spirit moved my heart to be a Catholic. You are in my humble prayers of intercession to God for you; and I ask for your God-pleasing prayers for me. Your servant in Christ, -Dcn.Joseph, Buffalo, New York

Yes, you will sign books! you will use your left hand! you will learn to chicken-scrawl your name...no problem.-Ernestina, Livermore, California

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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