The Catholic Mind of Archbishop Fulton Sheen

In pursuit of the truth - http://www.cinopsbegoneblogspot.com - Holy Thursday, April 17, 2014    

Preface: God willing, we will have a St. Fulton Sheen. Ref. Nat. Catholic Register, March 23, 2014

"But the alleged miracle in the case of the newborn Engstrom baby is also a "very significant" symbol for Archbishop Sheen's canonization process."

"Fulton Sheen's own ministry had such a pro-life ministry, Msgr. Deptula said. "He was one of the people very early on who warned this country was heading toward the sin of abortion and really promoted the idea of adopting unborn children spiritually and praying for them."

The Next Phase:

"If the alleged miracle get the Pope's approval, and Fulton Sheen is beatified, he will need another confirmed miracle for the canonization process. The miracle count resets, in a sense, and a new miracle must be recorded as happening after the beatification (although, as in the case of John XXIII, the Pope can waive the second-miracle requirement). Once there is a strong candidate, the process of scrutinizing the miracle repeats.

"My husband and I are praying for God's will, and it it's his will that Fulton Sheen be beatified because of what happened to our son, then that's really exciting." Bonni Engstrom said.

"Still, the alleged miracle's passing such a major test has generated a wave of grateful enthusiasm all over the U.S. Church. Bishop Jenky, whose Peoria Diocese is where the saint first lived and grew up, called the news "a good reason to rejoice.""The Diocese of Rochester, N.Y., which Archbishop Sheen briefly led from 1966 to l969, also chimed in its agreement.

"This is joyous news," said Doug Mandelaro, spokesman for Rochester Bishop Salvatore Matano. "We are so proud that this man, who inspired millions, who touched the hearts and souls of so many - and who served as our bishop - being thus honored by the Church.

"Father Andrew Apostoli of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a vice postulant for Archbishop Sheen's cause until 2008, was ordained in 1967 by then-Bishop Sheen himself, Father Apostoli said Archbishop Sheen is the right saint for the times.

"Pope John Paul II told us twice to hurry up with this case," he said. "Bishop Sheen was a moral force in the country. People listened to him, even ecumenically. He was speaking in synagogues at that time when we didn't know the meaning of the word ecumenically.

"Archbishop Sheen became most widely known in the U.S. beginning in the 1930s, when he became a popular radio personality; his ministry later moved to television. His Emmy Award-winning weekly TV program, Life Is Worth Living, eventually reached 30 million U.S.A. viewers.

"Father Apostoli noted that the highest percentage of religious groups that listened to him were first, Jews; second Protestants; and third Catholics. A lot respected him, which was tremendous" he said.

Model of Modern Holiness:

"Archbishop Sheen is an excellent model for how the Church needs to conduct the New Evangelization "using new and modern tools," said Msgr. Deptula. "No one is a better example of that than Fulton Sheen. He captured the attention of a generation." he said. "That's the kind of evangelist we need today.

For Bonnie Engstrom, Archbishop Fulton Sheen inspires her to become a saint, especially because she relates well to him: "They're both born and raised in the small towns of central Illinois(just 20 minute drive apart) that look typical small town America.

It's the humble side of this great man's roots, she said, that gives her great confidence in his example. "It just makes holiness - that I can do something great for Christ, even though I live in a really small town and my life can seem so basic."

GEORGE H. KUBECK

I RECALL HIS DAILY EUCHARISTIC DEVOTION AND THE BLACKBOARD AND CHALK WHEN HE DID HIS TV PROGRAM. HE SPOKE THE MIND OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. HE WAS THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. HE WAS SOMEONE WHO WOULD RESOLVE DISSENT AND EXPLAIN THE EVILS OF PROGRESSIVISM IN OUR CULTURE. HE EDUCATED US ON COMMUNISM.