Anthony Thomas Vento

Fr. Benedict Groeschel Anthony Thomas Vento

Fr. Groeschel was described in his EWTN tribute as a "faithful son of the Church, loving father of the poor, ardent preacher of the gospel, and dedicated follower of St. Francis." While it is difficult to summarize a man such as Fr. Groeschel into a few short phrases, these will serve as a focal point to this exploration into his life, works, and legacy. Whenever possible, his own words will be used to exemplify these aspects as his prolific writing and talks provide ample evidence. As a TV host, we are blessed with quite a lot of footage of this man and his mind. With over thirty books written as well, there is not much left to say about that man that he has not already said himself. I have chosen two of these works specifically for a myriad of reasons. Arise From Darkness: What to Do when Life Doesn't Make Sense is a sort of manual for those dealing with anxiety, fear, hopelessness, death, addiction, or other kinds of darkness that threaten one's faith life or personal life. It was written to provide some solace in the hope of gaining God's grace and a bit of understanding. Much like the other book used frequently throughout this work, it has a deeply psychological aspect that showcases Fr. Groeschel's deep knowledge of the human mind and how faith can offer help to those suffering mentally and spiritually. The other work, Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones: Spiritual Answers to Psychological Questions is similar in this aspect. It is different in that it focuses more deeply on the Scriptures and other Christian literature for guidance in the area of psychology. These and video clips from the EWTN television show Sunday Night Live serve as the main sources for the look into Fr. Benedict Groeschel's life, mind, and ministry. Accounts of those who knew him or worked with him are also included as needed to round out the man we are attempting to investigate. If the four areas already mentioned were not able to cover all that Fr. Groeschel was, looking into his work as a speaker and writer as well as his psychological insights would likely be more than enough to flesh out the man we are attempting to remember. To start, though, one usually turns to the beginning.