Today is Saturday, January 31. Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.

Many of you have commented on how much you appreciate our daily updates. While you may be thanking me personally, do know there is a small but energetic team which makes this possible. Certainly you are now familiar with Joe Campo who is the director of the Saint Francis House, Youth 2000 New York, and the Grassroots Renewal Project. As you might imagine, he's a busy man working for the love of God - and enjoying every minute of it. Thanks to Joe and David Miller, our young Web Master, Father Benedict is able to get the spiritual and emotional support he needs. Emails are being received, copied, and put in good order for Father to read at a later date. God willing, he will have many weeks, perhaps months of rehabilitation. Believe me, he will read each one! So, both Joe and David are to be commended for all their hard work.

Yet one other person who stays quietly behind the scenes is Rosann Mucciolo. Thanks to Rosann, our nightly reports stay somewhat intelligible. Because the friars are "low-tech", much of the computer magic is done outside the friary. I may do the writing, but it's Rosann and the other devoted members of the team who do much of the work. So, when you say, "Thank you", you are thanking the whole team, not just the quarterback!

Father Benedict, my friends, is slowly but surely becoming "Father Benedict"! Although silent as a church mouse, he's moving his lips a mile a minute. Father Luke tells me he's asking questions to every person who walks in his room; mouthing sentences like, "What is you name?" or "Where are you from?" He beamed bright when he heard one of the young administrators was from Jersey City! Yea, typical Father B, he's interested in others and grateful for others. Brother Shawn told me, "Everyday, you can see his personality emerging".

Yes, Mother of God, like your son, you have called him - and we have joined our voices to yours -"Come out"! Step by step, your servant slowly steps into the light of a new day. May each day be brighter than the next thanks to you! May our prayers be his daily bread bringing him strength and life.

Father Luke, Brother Shawn, and Br. Sharbel take their turns being by Father's side throughout the day, even as he sleeps. They are slowly ordering his day with the Divine Office (prayer times) and reading E-mails and selections from his favorite books like, "The Confession of Saint Augustine" and "Abandonment to Divine Providence". When he needs some quiet time, they play some Gregorian chant which Father loves. However, we all know the highlight of Father's day is the same as it is for many of us - Holy Mass. In the beginning this wasn't possible, but now, it looks like it will become part of his life once again. At this time, Father cannot receive Holy Communion, but soon....

So friends, while we are well aware that sudden storms and setbacks lurk in the distance, our payers, our weapons, our javelins are perfectly poised and ready to fly. "Lord, have mercy!" "Jesus, save your servant!" "Son of God, come to his aid!"

May Father Benedict and all those who suffer "arise from darkness" because we, the healthy, cared enough to pray and call them forth. God bless you.

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Dear Father Benedict, I listen to the video of you on the web site several times a day. It brings tears to my eyes and an outpouring of love for you. I only discovered EWTN this past year and now I listen to it everyday. I want you to know I love you and am grateful for all the times you made me feel loved with your message. - Phoebe, Voorhees, New Jersey

Dear Father - Our family has been praying for you since your accident. Fr. Apostoli was here at our parish for a mission in December and he made a real impression on my daughters. I told them that you are his brother. They began making lovely little sacrifices like offering up a growing pain or not getting a candy bar on candy bar day at school. Through his letters of update on your condition, Fr. Glenn is teaching me how to pray - with audacious hope and trust and specificity. His love pours forth from the sterile screen of this computer and I can say "look at how they love one another!" In this crazy world, we see beauty and touch the face of God when we encounter those who live by His Word and are dwelling in His grace. I am praying to Blessed Mother Teresa daily for you, and I KNOW she is looking after you. Thank you for helping to sustain my faith through your example. If you need any intentions to offer your sufferings for, please remember St. Mark Parish and School in Peoria, IL, as we seek to do the Will of God. May you find your strength deep within the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Love and Prayers - Marie, Peoria, Illinios

Dear Father Groeschel, This morning I did not want to get out of a warm bed and walk my dog in the cold dim morning. I did not want to then drive 10 miles to church to say three decades of the Rosary. But then the Blessed Mother spoke to my heart and reminded me that not only did She need my prayers today, but that I should offer the cold and damp day up for you. I almost turned around and went back to bed, but I found myself saying this Rosary in our church and receiving the Eucharist for you. I hope in a small way my sacrifice helped you. God bless you - Judi, Calabash, North Carolina

Fr. Benedict, you have touched our lives with your speeches and you have changed pur lives too with your prayers. For that I am very thankful to your tireless efforts in bringing us back to God. Now at this point in your life, I pray to God for your immediate recovery so that your can serve HIM more than before. - Belen, Pasig, ,Metro Manila, Philippines

Dear Father Benedict, I send my prayers to you, my deepest thoughts are of you, I watch EWTN, I`m 91 years young, You have touched many lives in your teaching of GOD`s grace. I pray that you will be able to return to New York real soon. God Bless you. - Constance, Ellsworth, Maine

Feb1,2004 is our 46th wedding aniv.We will dedicat this day and our prayers to your recovery. - Regis, Johnstown, Pennslyvania

Dear Fr. Benedict, We are praying for you. It is really nice of Fr. Sudano to provide updates including video of you, as if you were speaking to us now. It was also wonderful to see so many priests and brothers from your order participating in the Mass for Life and the March for Life in DC. Hope you will be there again next year! There should be a Speech Pathologist on staff at your hospital who could help you get an assistive technology device to allow you to communicate. God Bless. - Anita, Iowa City, Iowa

Dear Fr. Glenn: Our deepest gratitude from all your Larchmont friends for the daily updates. You have the great gift of putting into a word picture all of Fr. Ben's movements and gestures. Your word makes him alive..and then, the video clip! What a joy to see and hear him every day. May Our Lady who gave us the WORD translate our gratitude to you--into a word that will touch your heart. Peace and all good. - Mary, Mamaroneck, New York

Fr. Benedict I have shared your tapes and books in mens groups and with my family. I have received our Lord from you during Mass at the Meyers Farm. My son is studying to be a priest because of your saintly example. I heard you speak at St Nicholas last month when you joked about getting hit by a car and spending the rest of your life in purgatory listening to your tapes! Boy doesn't our God have a sense of humor. As your going through your rehab, may we both pray to blessed Herman for his intersession and his contribution of Hail Holy Queen for painfull times like these. Thank you Father for saying Yes to Gods calling. - Gig Harbor, Washington

Seminarians at Blessed John XXIII Seminary pray each day for healing of Father Benedict. - Michael, Weston, Massachusetts

Dear Fr. Benedict, Just wanted to let you know that you are in my prayers and the prayers of my parishoners at St.Henry in Bayonne N.J. the town next to Jersey City. Your insights have had a profound effect upon my priesthood and my spirituality. May God bless you and heal you quickly. fraternally. - Fr. Paul, Bayonne , New Jersey

We all love you and wish you to return to good health. Our heartfelt prayers are with you and I promise to make little sacrifices and mortifications each day for you. - Dolores, Lecanto, Florida

You are in my thoughts and prayers. I will celebrate my one year anniversary this Easter in the Catholic Church. You were one of the inspirations that helped me to find the truth about the faith. I pray God will heal you mind, body and spirit. God bless you now and always... - Willette, Vinemont, Alabama

Fr. Benedict, My prayers are with you. I remember two years ago when you came to talk at our parish retreat when I was 11. I love you so much. Please get well...I haven't got a chance to get your autograph yet!? - Gracie, Novi, Michigan

Dear father Benedict,I'm so happy that you have been making progress.I have watch your shows thru ewtn.Your truly a soldier for Jesus.Even when I attend a protestant church I'm begining to understand more of your catholic faith.May Jesus fill you with Blessings. - Virgil, Jackson , Michigan