Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,

From the Hospital:

Message for Monday, April 19, 2004

I hope fairly soon to leave the skilled nursing home attached to the hospital where I have been for a number of weeks. I will be saying good-bye to the largely elderly population we have here. One thing strikes me about them: will all their difficulties with the darkening of their minds they still have courage and determination. Perhaps we sometimes do not admire or even appreciate the virtues of the very elderly. Although they may not speak very much or be able to communicate with us very well, they are nevertheless not only human beings but also thinking people. They may no longer be thinking the same way we think, but they are registering experiences, treatments, joy, and sorrow in a very quiet, subdued way.

Years ago Catholic children were taught to have great respect for the elderly in the devotion to St. Joseph. He is the patron of a happy death and of old age. Many churches had a stained glass window depicting St. Joseph dying as an old man with the adult Christ and Mary with him. This was a beautiful image. My own experience with Mother Teresa showed me that very elderly people can achieve a lot for others and for the glory of God. It gives me reason to pause and examine my conscience, as I prepare to leave the nursing home, to see if my attitude toward the elderly has changed and brightened.

Let us continue to pray for each other!

Father Benedict

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What a grace from heaven to see and hear you on your web site. Those millions of us that love you, and owe you so very much for using your vocation and gifts from God to help so many of us to work harder to follow Christ the way he made us to do. It is so wonderful to see you doing so well. I pray for you daily, and thank God for not taking you from us on that terrible day. God Bless you Father B.- Marti, Dallas , Texas

Dear Father: May Jesus our Risen Lord bless you, and hold you in the palm of his hand all the days of your life. I was so happy and pleased to come accross this site. I have been praying for you and thinking about you. I feel as if I know you personally because I have followed you on EWTN.I will continue in my prayers and especially remember you in Mass on Mercy Sunday God Bless You Sincerely-Carole, Phila, Pennsylvania

My prayers are with you.Thank you for all your spiritual direction in your books and tapes. with a large family its not easy to find a priest to be so strait foward in zeroing in on Jesus.-Martin, Carmel, New York

Dear Father Groeschel, It's probably been said at least a few times before, but I am just so AWED that before this accident, although we had your books and tapes and saw your beautiful face on EWTN, and were truly inspired by your sermons..somehow this is very different, it's like you are personally speaking to us, one on one, like Jesus does and we have you all to ourselves. I mean that truly, as a child to her Father. I keep you in my morning offering (which sometimes is in the afternoon...I'm trying)....and daily Rosaries.-JoAnn, Utica, New York

Dear Father Benedict--I continue to keep you in prayer, and remember you during the Eucharistic Prayer at every Mass I attend. As each of these April days brings us a little more deeply into the warmth and growth of Spring, I hope each day our dear Lord brings you renewed strength and vitality. Peace, -Jean, Williamsburg, Michigan

Fr. Benedict, Praise the Lord Jesus the Christ! May He continue to heal you, restoring you to those of us who depend on your no-nonsense approach to living life in the Holy Mother Church. My prayers are storming the Heavens above for you continued healing; especially of your right side and arm. as always, -Joy, Joplin, MO

Thank you for your message & your prayers & we continue to pray for you. The world needs your messages. God Bless-Joan & Bill, Inverness, Florida

Dear Father Benedict, Seeing you in these videos and reading your message everyday brings me more joy than you can imagine. I miss you and thank God for my dear Father Benedict. Some of the friars and sisters were in Texas today and put on a retreat for my junior high students. They were so glad to get an update on how you are doing as they have all been praying for you. Please know that I love you and am praying for you. Thank you for all you have done for me, for so many others and for our Church! Alleluia! The Lord is risen! Love, -Pati, Grand Prairie, Texas

Dear Fr. Benedict, I will pray for you to regain the use of your right arm, and for you to get stronger quickly. I miss you on EWTN. Try not to wear yourself out or exhaust yourself.I am sorry that you are suffering. Thank you for everything that you do for all of us.-Karla, KAty, Texas

Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict

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