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Cause for Archbishop Fulton Sheen advances

Comments: 8

Peoria, Ill., Jul 25, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The process of canonization for Archbishop Fulton Sheen is advancing steadily. Copies of a report on an alleged miracle that took place in 1999 through the intercession of the Archbishop were signed Sunday by Roman Catholic Church officials and will be sent to the Vatican for review, reported The Journal Star.

The 500-page report and supporting documents will be delivered to Rome by canon lawyer Fr. Andrea Ambrosi, postulator of the cause. The cause was officially begun in 2003.

Archbishop Sheen was born in the Woodford County town of El Paso in 1895 and ordained in the Diocese of Peoria in 1909. He became widely known and respected as a teacher of the faith through his television programs in the 1950s and 1960s. He died in 1979.

The alleged miracle involves a Champaign woman, then 72 years old, who was undergoing lung surgery when a tear was discovered in her main pulmonary artery. The woman's husband told investigators he prayed for his wife's recovery invoking the archbishop. The woman is still alive and in good health.

Fr. Ambrosi has reportedly worked on hundreds of sainthood causes, including Pope John XXIII's. He said it is still very early in the process to have two claims of miracles. The Church still has to investigate how holy his life was.

Fr. Andrew Apostoli, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal in New York, is vice postulator of the cause. He said he knows of at least four other claims of miraculous intercession by the archbishop.

“Fulton Sheen is one the shining gems of the diocese [of Peoria],” said Msgr. Stewart Swetland, director of homiletics and pre-theology at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, at the signing Sunday.

“Sheen was a pioneer in the use of social means of communication and predated (the Second Vatican Council document) Inter Mirifica and was in some ways a forerunner for the work that Karol Wojtyla [later Pope John Paul II] was able to do in the vast social communications of his pontificate.”

Msgr. Swetland said the way Archbishop Sheen delivered the truths of the faith have an impact to this day. “I am constantly amazed that, even with the great increases in the sophistication of media technologies, so many still enjoy listening to or watching his recordings from the 1950s and 60s.”

Pope John Paul II recognized Archbishop Sheen’s contribution to evangelization through the media. Two months before his death, Pope John Paul II visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and embraced the archbishop, saying: "You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church.”

Comments: 8

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Margaret Leahy
Ireland 12/07/2009 08:28 AM EST

In the 50's my family lived in Mass., USA - my mother was agreat 'fan' of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen's show - as a child I found him magnetic, charismatic, and a person with great wit and cheerfulness. What I remember most about him was his writing board and how he never started to write on same without first writing JMJ at the start of the page - this has often crossed my mind over the last 50 years. I only saw on EWTN last evening about the Canonisation cause and I will pray for same with fond remembrance of Bishop Sheen.

Published by: Rev. Ruel T. Deterala
Diocese of Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines 05/05/2009 11:49 PM EST

Can you send me video and audio recordings of Archbp. Sheen? I love his preaching so much, and how I wish I would be able to make brilliant sermons as he did. So I invoke him in my prayers for this. But I think there is a lacking equation, I have to listen to most of his preaching. I just cannot afford to buy his video and audio records for I am also dependent on the generosity of others. Please help, if you can. I am a Catholic deacon.

Published by: Linda Blair
Clearwater,Florida ,USA 07/26/2006 07:26 AM EST

I am so glad they are begining to proceed.My mother,grandmother and my aunt worked at Sacred Heart Church,Rochester N.Y.when he was a bishop,they allways said he was a Holy man!I agree

Published by: George Angel
Canada 07/25/2006 06:07 PM EST

Archbishop Fulton Sheen's use of the media to evangelize were absolutely amazing and effective even to this day. No matter how sophisticated media technologies have become it is still no match for the power and simplicity expressed by Archbishop Sheen. Quite simply Archbishop Fulton Sheen's ability to communicate through the media was a gift from God that was way ahead of its time. People like Archbishop Sheen will never be outdated because his message and the way he was able to effectively communicate to the public are timeless. If you want to get a glimmer of how amazing what Archbishop Sheen had to say, all one has to do is read "Through the Year with Fulton Sheen" which has inspirational readings for each day of the year. It is from Ignatius Press and compiled and edited by Henry Dieterich. If you have not discovered Archbishop Fulton Sheen yet, this book will provide a marvelous opportunity and insight to feel the power and presence of the Holy Spirit through the inspirational daily writings of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. That is how powerful his writings and broadcasts really were. He was an absolute giant and pioneer of the catholic media right from the early beginnings of radio and television broadcasting. I pray and hope that the canonization process for Archbishop Fulton Sheen are successful and bear much fruit very soon.

Published by: Charles Wadlow
Kirkland, WA 07/25/2006 12:24 PM EST

Archbishop Sheen is one of the best examples we have on what it means to be a Bishop and Shepheard of the flock. He was a fantastic teacher and preacher. When he said Mass, it was known to always be packed with standing room only to see and hear him. Why? Because he had so much passion for the Lord. He loved Jesus Christ so much, and His homilies were amazing. He was an Evangelical Catholic.

Why were his homilies so amazing? Because they were not just 8 minutes long. Many of his sermons last thirty plus minutes and he actually taught you something that you could use in your everyday life and help you get closer to Christ.

This is why so many Catholics have left the church. Our homilies in many churches are an absolute joke. Yes, those of us who are properly catechized, understand the Eucharist is the focal point of the Mass. Unfortunately, our preaching is lacking in a big way, while in Evangelical churches they preach for 40 minutes at least. People love to learn about Jesus, and how scripture can make their lives more Holy. You can't really blame someone for leaving because they want to learn more about Jesus, can you?

Archbishop Sheen was a loyal son of the church. It is amazing to me how many bishops we have today, that couldn't even hold up his cloak.

May God choose to grow our church. May God increase our boundaries for His Glory, and may we have more Archbishop Sheen's as bishops in our Church.

Published by: Mim Magu
US 07/25/2006 12:12 PM EST

great article. i am one of those who love 2 watch sheen on ewtn. i am praying 2 him 4 my cousin , PAT, who has cancer.

Published by: Mike McCaffrey
Yarmouthport, MA 02675 07/25/2006 11:36 AM EST

If Archbishop Sheen is ever cannonized it will be an historic opportunity to study and learn from all his teaching moments as a television performer. This will carry unprecedented opportunities to affect Christians throughout the world. Imagine a videotape library of the preaching of St. Augustine or Francis of Assisi!

Published by: Kathleen Griffin
Bronx, New York 07/25/2006 10:59 AM EST

Fulton Sheen was ordained in 1919, at age 24, not in 1909 at age 14!

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