Posted on 03/31/2009 5:48:13 AM PDT by NYer
Father Benedict Groeschel, whose whole life has been spent preaching the Gospel, suffered a minor stroke in mid-March, leaving him with some speech difficulties.
Father Benedict made the news public on his regular Sunday evening talk show March 29 on the Eternal Word Television Network, Sunday Night Life with Father Benedict Groeschel.
Appearing before a life audience, the 75-year-old Franciscan Friar of the Renewal noted that he had missed the show the previous Sunday because he had suffered a stroke overnight March 20-21. Another member of his community, Father Andrew Apostoli, also well-known to EWTN viewers, substituted for him.
Father Benedicts speech was obviously impaired as he revealed the news, and he misspoke Father Andrews name as Father Augustine.
He also confused a recent story in the news when he said that the University of Notre Dame was receiving an award from President Obama.
But Father Benedict said that his speech difficulties improve as he continues to talk, and, in fact, by the time the one-hour program was over, he was speaking much more normally. He even poked fun at himself for getting Father Andrews name wrong: Ill never live that down.
His guest on the program was author Immaculée Ilibagiza, whose book Left to Tell described her experience during the mid-1990s tribal conflict in Rwanda that left 800,000 people dead. Although the subject of the interview was her new book, Our Lady of Kibeho, and the Vaticans approval of the apparition, Father Benedict and callers to the program also discussed Ilibagizas survival of the atrocities in Rwanda and the role her faith played in it.
As if to drive home the need for faith and hope during such times, Father Benedict near the end of the program repeated the news that he had suffered a stroke. He said he decided to go ahead with his program so that viewers who may be suffering in some way wont give up.
Father Groeschel also announced that he was beginning a new series on the network.
For anyone who has not seen Fr. Groeschel’s program on EWTN,I highly recommend it.He is a brilliant,well educated man with a lot of common sense,a sense of humor and a great amount of experience.
Ditto! Like Archbishop Sheen, his viewing audience is composed of people from all faiths and even no faith at all. It was painful to watch him stammer last Sunday yet also inspiring when he announced that he would continue to host the Sunday show even announcing the next 8 part series.
Mother Angelica also suffered a series of strokes that have left her silent.
His is one of the best programs on EWTN. I appreciate his humor and his thoughtful explanations. I also highly recommend the program.
That’s it! I saw the Icon of St. Benedict again recently and thought to myself that he looks like someone I’d seen but couldn’t place it. Fr. Groeschel is such a blessing to us, he has my continued prayers.
My prayers are with Father. He is certainly amazing to listen to and is most blessed with the Gift of Wisdom.
Prayers....
May The Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. |
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“Like Archbishop Sheen, his viewing audience is composed of people from all faiths and even no faith at all.”
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Very true.
I wonder how many of those people are aware that Fr. Groeschel’s wisdom (like Archbishop Sheen), is built on the solid foundation of nasty old rigid, judgmental, dogmatic Catholicism.
Fr. Groeschel included a passionate denunciation of the shameful acts at Notre Dame and asked his audience — that is you and me — to keep the pressure on them.
May the good Lord give him strength and long years. Lord, give succor to your faithful servant Benedict. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.
Prayers for Father Groeschel’s healing.
*snicker* Let's not tell them. Let them just absorb it. ;o)
Oh, and God Bless Fr. Groeschel!
Prayers for the good Father
I love this man. Prayers going up.
WOW, I had no idea. I was watching the repeat of the program and came in after he said he was "sick". He was fumbling his words a little and I told my wife that Father Groeschel was fumbling his words a little and that he must have still been "under the weather". I thought he had a bad cold or virus or something but WOW!. He was absolutely speaking much more clearly and fluidly by the end of the show. WHAT A TROOPER!
God Bless the good father!
Prayer said.
Yeah, he is a treasure! I’ve grown a good bit spiritually just listening to him.
I know that there are also a good many non-Catholic Christians who enjoy his insights and observations.
Prayers for his health.
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