Later this month on September 24th, Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be beatified in Saint Louis, Missouri. Most known for his various publications and the Emmy-winning television show Life Is Worth Living, Archbishop Sheen’s holy life began in the small town of El Paso, Illinois. Growing up in a devout Catholic family, he was known for his quiet seriousness and a strong interest in religious study from an early age. As a boy, Sheen displayed both intellectual curiosity and a desire to serve God, traits that helped shape the direction of his life well before he reached adulthood. Once, while an altar boy at the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Immaculate in Peoria, Sheen dropped one of the cruets holding the wine. In his autobiography “Treasures in Clay,” the young Sheen remembered the words spoken to his by the celebrant Bishop John Spalding: “Go home and tell your mother that I said when you get big you are to go to Louvain, and someday you will be just as I am”
Apart from the several books and pamphlets he authored, Venerable Fulton Sheen is probably best remembered for his media presence. When the National Council of Catholic Men decided to sponsor the Sunday evening broadcasts in cooperation with the National Broadcasting Company, Sheen became the first regular speaker on the program following the inaugural broadcast on March 2, 1930. The program, which began on a 17-station network, was carried in 1950 by 118 NBC affiliates and by short wave around the world, with an average weekly listening audience estimated at 4 million in the United States alone. In the fall of 1951, Bishop Sheen began a television series entitled "Life Is Worth Living". By 1956, the Bishop was appearing on 123 ABC television stations in the United States alone and 300 radio stations. It was estimated that he reached 30,000,000 people each week. The revenue that he earned from these shows would be donated to an organization that he was the National Director of for 15 years: The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which helped connect American Catholics to the missionary work of the Church throughout the world.
Sheen in Philadelphia
During his lifetime, Ven. Fulton Sheen spoke several times in and around Philadelphia; from churches to retreat houses. Two of his talks in Philadelphia were given during the 41st International Eucharistic Congress in 1976. The first one was given on August 5th at the Ecumenical Conference and Workshop at the Civic Center. The second talk was given as the homily at the Marian Liturgy at Veterans Stadium on August 6th. During the Statio Orbis Mass at the close of the Congress, Archbishop Sheen served as the co-commentator for the national broadcast. Another interesting fact is that the theme of the Eucharistic Congress was inspired by Sheen. Two years earlier in 1974, Archbishop Fulton Sheen was asked by Monsignor Walter J. Conway, executive secretary for the 41st International Eucharistic Congress, for his thoughts about a theme for the upcoming spiritual assembly: “Have you ever thought about the starving souls all about us…. There are people starving in body for food and people starving in soul for God.”
Two months before his passing, Archbishop Sheen was present when Pope John Paul II held an audience at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. where he called him to come forward. Embracing the clergyman, the Pope said, “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church.” On December 9th, 1979, Archbishop Fulton died and entered into eternal rest. At the funeral, homilist Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara ended recounted Sheen’s life and ended with these words: “Dear Friend, Archbishop Sheen, we are all better because you were in our midst and were our friend. We trust you to the care of your 'Lovely Lady dressed in blue." We pray that Jesus has already said: I've heard My Mother speak of you." Bye now, Fulton Sheen, and God Love You Forever!"
