What to Know about Fulton Sheen’s Beatification
Fulton Sheen’s Beatification
Soon Catholics in the United States will have particular reason to celebrate, as Fulton Sheen (1895-1979) is declared Blessed. Almost fifty years after his death, Sheen is still well known for his apostolate of television and radio, through which he reached millions of people long before social media made this type of work common and necessary. He is to be beatified, however, not simply because of his productive apostolic life, but because he lived what he preached.
Early Life
Sheen grew up in Peoria, Illinois, but his eventful life would take him all over the country and indeed the world, as he studied and later taught in Washington, D.C. and Europe and held positions in major cities. His life reads like a dazzling list of achievements: a prize-winning doctorate in philosophy after ordination; a brief time in a parish before prestigious teaching and administrative positions; auxiliary bishop of New York; bishop of Rochester, NY; titular bishop of Newport, Wales. All the while, he developed his radio and television programs, of which the best-known would be his weekly TV series, Life Is Worth Living. Eventually the volume of fan mail rose to thousands of letters a week.
Secret Suffering
Sheen’s life should not, however, be judged merely from the outside. Like anyone, especially those in the public square and those devoted to God’s service, he experienced his share of suffering. Not only was the sheer amount of activity physically and mentally exhausting, he faced significant opposition, even and especially from fellow Catholics. The fiercest came from Francis Cardinal Spellman, archbishop of New York, after an administrative disagreement, though Sheen never publicly discussed it. Sheen’s later years, notably his time as bishop of Rochester, brought difficulties as his health declined and his apostolate with it.
In both success and setbacks, Sheen was like the servant in the parable who was given five talents and made five more (Mt 25:14-21). His gifts and charisma were not for his own benefit but to help others find God; he recognized that and used them accordingly. He kept a daily Eucharistic Holy Hour since the year before his ordination, and not only “gave away millions in royalties, salary and gifts” but “would drop everything to help a single person in need” (Matthew McDonald, National Catholic Register). In his suffering, he turned not to himself but to the Passion of Jesus; as he said after a surgery, “the Lord … will look to see if we have any physical marks of the Cross” (McDonald). Sheen’s devotion to God and to his people not only gave power to his message but formed him as a pastor and a man.
The Needed Miracle
Generally, before both beatification and canonization, a miracle must be found to have taken place through the person’s intercession. The miracle for Fulton Sheen’s beatification occurred in 2010, in his hometown, Peoria. Newborn James Fulton Engstrom, who was almost declared stillborn after an hour without breath or pulse, suddenly developed normal signs of life. James not only survived but grew with no physical or mental handicaps. Medical personnel were unanimously baffled.
A Long-Awaited Event
In 2019, the miracle was approved. Some complications in the investigation of the cause held up the process, but in March 2026, plans were at last set in motion. The beatification is to take place Thursday, September 24, in St. Louis, MO, with Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle presiding. Some events will be livestreamed. See details of relevant events.
Wherever we are on September 24, we have great cause for thanksgiving as we join in honoring the new Blessed. Like Saint Paul, that great example of preachers, he demonstrates that we can do all things in Him Who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). Through his intercession, may we always center our lives on prayer, especially with the Blessed Sacrament, and share with others what He gives us: the Good News that life is indeed worth living.
Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us!
