AT LAST- A NEW AMERICAN SAINT

 

VENERABLE FULTON J. SHEEN will finally be beatified. No date or location for the beatification has been given. His beatification had been postponed due to a public battle to relocate his remains from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to its current location, the side chapel of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois. (See Blog March 22, 2012) 

There were also, concerns that as bishop of Rochester from 1966-1969, the prelate might have overlooked sexual abuse by at least one former diocesan priest there.

 Archbishop Fulton Sheen was one of the greatest voices of evangelization in the Church and the world in the 20th century using the media of television. He was once dubbed “God’s microphone”.  Countless people came into the Church due to his non-confrontational, yet no less life-giving, manner to untold millions through radio, print and television.

 

He was known to have a great devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. He said the key to his apostolic success was union with Jesus, a deep and growing friendship with Jesus in his Daily Holy Hour, that he called “The Hour of Power”. (See Blog September 9, 2018)

Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria said:

 “In his later years, particularly through his work for the Missions, Archbishop Sheen helped us recognize that the Church is meant for all people. He reminded us that as members of the Church, we are called to serve everyone, especially those most in need and those longing to hear and experience the Gospel, wherever they may be in the world.”