Dear friends of Fr. Benedict,
Today is Tuesday, January 20. Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.
"Stretch
out your hand!" This is the command Our Lord gives to a man with a shriveled
hand in today's Gospel. The gospel says, "The man did so and his hand was
perfectly restored". Today, Fr. Benedict was commanded, "Father raise your
eyebrow! Raise your finger!"
Nothing. No movement.
Today things were quiet. Perhaps too quiet. Father is still asleep. The chemicals put into his system the first night were necessary to keep his body still and to dull the pain. Evidently, the sedatives are doing their thing, perhaps a bit more than expected. The doctors have told us that every person reacts differently to the same doses. The way I read the present situation is that there is a certain "cautious optimism". Professionals are understandably hesitant to offer their opinions. Sometimes you get more from the nurses' expressions than from what they say. Some raise their eyebrows and shrug their shoulders as if to say, "Who knows?" Some slightly purse their lips and tilt their heads which looks like: "I'm sorry". Many of you have been through this with loved ones. "An emotional roller coaster" is how one mother of a cancer victim recently described it to me.
Yet, today we choose to thank God. Fr. Benedict has survived thus far. We're into our second week. Every day he is with us is a gift. He is in little pain. The head wound is healing. The leg was repaired masterfully with no apparent negative effects. His color is good. His blood pressure "okay", and his heart rate generally moderate. His lungs show no signs of pneumonia or infections.
Fr. John, Fr. Conrad, and Br. Sharbel were by Father's bedside today praying the psalms and singing, especially traditional Latin hymns which Father loves so much. I asked our schola director, Br. Francis Mary about making a CD of hymns Father Benedict really loves. When I was thinking about this idea, the words, "In Memory Of..." came to mind, but I quickly said, "No, Lord, In Honor Of... How quickly we can take a turn down a dark path. No, we will trust! We will pray! We will hope! "Yes…in honor of Fr. Benedict, who taught us how to hope in the midst of darkness".
This Thursday Fr. Conrad will be returning to Yonkers. Fr. Sylvester, one of our newly ordained priests, will be heading south with Br. Peter, one of our brothers from England. Br. Sharbel will be staying to be our "point man". Our friars are being treated so wonderfully I am daily brought to the brink of tears.
On a lighter note, a priest told me today: "This is the longest Fr. Benedict has been quiet in forty years! But don't you worry, when he gets out of this - HE'LL MAKE UP FOR IT! Another person told me, "Look at this, Fr. Benedict's in bed asleep, and he has thousands of people praying. He's amazing, he works even when he sleeps!"
Finally, as we are praying for Fr. Benedict, let us remember all of those who are very ill or injured, especially for those cases where death is obviously imminent. Let us remember children who are very sick, and the elderly in the evening of their lives. Fr. Benedict would want us to add these intentions when we pray for him. Don't forget the five fingers of our helping hand.
You wouldn't believe how much E-mail we are receiving! The virtual outpouring of affection… my God, the power of one holy life! Today let us choose to imitate a priest who by his words and deeds has made the world a better place. Even now, as he sleeps, he is making us love God more. How blest we are not only to know this priest, but to call this priest, "my friend".
Fr. Glenn Sudano,
C.F.R.
Community Servant (superior)
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Send your greetings to Fr. Benedict
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