On Thursday I was charged with the honour and duty of collecting Fr Benedict Groeschel from the airport. For those who do not know, Fr Benedict is the founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, based in New York's Bronx, which split from the Capuchins in 1987 to persue radical street evangelisation, and pro-life witness. After 20 years the order has grown to over 100 friars and sisters, working both in New York and further afield (including London and Bradford). Their work is a real inspiration to everyone they meet, and therefore it was exciting for me to meet their founder.
He is also the author of over 20 books, the host of several EWTN television programmes. He is Professor of Pastoral Theology at St Joseph's Seminary, Director of Spiritual Development for the Archdiocese of New York, and Chairman of Good Counsel Homes and St Francis House. He is also about to celebrate his 74th birthday. He was ordained Priest in the Capuchin Order at the age of 26, in 1959.
I found quite a frail but confident man, who was keen to tip the airline steward with the wheelchair, and ready to help read directions to me of how to get to Twickenham. Our conversations ranged from the nature of evil to the traditional Latin Mass (he is ready to dust off his 1962 Missal) but always interspersed with good humour and anecdotes. He was a pleasure to spend the afternoon with, and always insisting on other people's welfare above his own, despite everyone's readiness to help and accommodate him.Before I left the Linacre Conference, full of inspiration from a keynote address by Fr Benedict, and all the other wonderful speakers, I ensured I received his special blessing. He recalled all the important things in my life, evidently having paid astute attention to everything I had told him previously.
Wow Matt! Holy envy! Yes his books are great psychology as well as spirituality. i particularly like 'Arise from Darkness' & the story of 'A Priest Forever' about the young man ordained hours before his death...so intensely moving. i've ordered Fr Tim's suggestion 'The Virtue Driven Life'..
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Although he would be the first to dismiss the idea, Fr Benedict is a saint. Not only has he founded the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (a severe Order teeming with young men) and written influential spiritual books, he has had a special mission to help, encourage and console many Catholics who have been hurt by the savage way the reforms were applied after the Second Vatican Council. At a time when few were there to listen or back them up, he did so because he saw how badly they had been treated. You were deeply privileged to be able to talk with him and receive his blessing and he was fortunate to have had you as his driver. I don't expect that you will ever forget meeting him. All who went on that weekend in Strawberry Hill say what an inspiring occasion it was and I expect it will have a strong influence on your future work. I hope you are feeling better. Nice hat.
ReplyDeleteMatt, this has nothing to do with Fr Groeschel or the Linacre Centre's conference at the week-end. I have been wanting for some time to ask you about your coat of arms. The arms at the top of your blog look as if they were drawn by a man called Paul Woodroffe. He was a contemporary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at Stonyhurst, a noted stained glass painter and a good black and white artist. He lived at Chipping Camden in Gloucestershire. Do you have any record of him as the artist who drew them? Of course, they would have been granted by the Garter King of Arms but Woodroffe drew many of his contemporary's arms and designed a series of heraldic windows at Stonyhurst. They look as if they are his work. Any idea?
ReplyDeleteThank you Luke. That is news to me, but very welcome. The Brothers of the Little Oratory here in Birmingham are planning to visit Stonyhurst very soon, so I will pay attention to Woodroffe's work there. God bless!
ReplyDeleteWhat a grace to meet someone who is a living saint, and such a powerful instrument of God's work.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are visiting Stonyhurst soon. Paul Woodroffe's heraldic windows are half way up the main staircase, in the middle of the old dining hall (opposite the fireplace), and at the further end of the lower gallery. I am sure you will notice a resemblance to the way your own arms are drawn. He also designed the bronze South African War Memorial at the top of the stairs, immediately before you enter the dining hall. When you are there ask if you can see the cage where the Philosophers' hunting dogs were kept, at the back of the mill. Their howling at night gave Conan Doyle the idea for the 'Hound of the Baskervilles'. I hope you get a good guide. The run of the mill ones are fairly desperate; mostly local housewives. Doyle was not happy there but he was elected to the Sodality of Our Lady; only the best boys got in. If they show you the newly restored Sodality Chapel you will see where he recited the Little Hours of Our Lady.
ReplyDeleteFr. Benedict is indeed an inspiration. He has made such a wonderful recovery after his near fatal accident. Such a privilege for yo to have met him. I think I'm going green.
ReplyDeleteWhat a privilege, Matt. I saw Fr. Groeschel give a similar lecture at the Mission Church here in Boston several weeks ago---though he added a lot of Boston-specific commentary. It was unforgettable. I got to chat with him briefly as he signed a copy of his book for me. The crowds of people, among whom were no small number of young habited nuns and young tonsured brothers, were enraptured. He received so many ovations, and I loved how at the end he implored us not to clap in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. His speech ended in silence, though hundreds of people, unable to contain themselves, waved at Fr. Benedict instead.
ReplyDeleteI would love to find a recording of that lecture somewhere.
Some day you will be able to say that you chauffeured a saint!
ReplyDelete'St Columba' is so right! If my prayers have anything to do with it, he will be raised to the altars. Another ministry that I don't think anyone has mentioned previously is his work with, and for, homosexual people who follow the Church's teaching and live chaste lives. Unfortunately, as I'm sure many of us know already, even celibate homosexuals are treated very badly by some misguided Catholics and Fr Benedict is at the front of their cause.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
What an honor. He really is a living saint!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt. Matt, you've been blessed by meeting a saint alive.
ReplyDeleteFr. Benedict is a model of life for all of us. Let me say, he can't be canonized alive, but his union with God's Will is a sign of holiness.
God has blessed you! May God bless you always!