Submitted by Bob Stanley
The late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
was know to be a frequent “sufferer”
The Sunday homily as an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word, can only be renewed and energized by the Holy Spirit.
Kerygma or the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery should lead to metanoia 5, a progressive (or radical) conversion of the heart to the Gospel. But, it is the Holy Spirit who is the great “Converter” waiting to be “stirred up” or “fanned into flame” 6 in the hearts of the faithful, through the preaching of Christ crucified.
As Pope Paul VI said in his very powerful apostolic exhortation “On Evangelisation”: “…the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelization. It is he who inspires each individual to proclaim the Gospel, and it is he who causes the word of salvation to be understood and accepted.
It was not by chance that the inauguration of evangelization took place on the morning of Pentecost under the inspiration of the Spirit”. 7 It is noteworthy that the greatest aspect of the renewal of the Eucharistic Liturgy that Vatican II has brought is the introduction of the epiclesis, 8 right before the words of consecration of the bread and wine.
That is why preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit is essential. Hopefully, this kerygmatic preaching will elicit conversion which in turn awakens the desire in the believer for a deeper knowledge and understanding of the faith, which is catechesis.
However, what is sorely needed in our parishes, before faith formation or catechesis, which is, in itself, very important, is boldness in the kerygma, the proclamation of Christ crucified and risen.
…an important observation: doctrinal objections to Catholicism are often moral objections in disguise. Earlier in his book, Sheen affirms that “most people basically do not have trouble with the Creed, but with the Commandments; not so much with what the Church teaches, as with how the Church asks us to behave.”
On June 28, Pope Benedict officially recognized Archbishop Sheen as someone who had lived a life of “heroic virtue,” and declared him “Venerable.” The devout priest from Peoria who became the first televangelist, commanded a weekly audience of 30 million, and appeared on the cover of Time, is now just one step away from beatification, and a second from sainthood, pending two respective miracles. The Vatican is already studying the case of a stillborn child who—having shown no vital signs for 60 minutes—astonishingly came back to life, after his mother prayed for the Archbishop’s intercession.
The advance of Sheen’s cause has elated his many supporters, especially three priests who’ve had a special devotion to it.
Monsignor Hilary Franco, who served as the Archbishop’s assistant when he headed the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in America—and is the only surviving member of his New York household—told me how thankful he was for the announcement: “I am a living witness to Archbishop Sheen’s holiness.”
For Archbishop’s Sheen’s admirers, the announcement came as an official stamp of approval that meant Archbishop Sheen’s life was worthy of emulation.
“He is the patron saint of media and evangelization,” said the Rev. Robert Barron, whose Illinois-based ministry, Word on Fire, seeks to spread the Gospel through television and the Internet. And the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest who often appears on television, said: “Sainthood has come to the media age. In another couple of years we will have the first Twitter or Facebook saint.”
Archbishop Sheen brought Catholicism into the living rooms of Catholics, Protestants and people of other faiths at a time when anti-Catholic sentiment was still common in the United States. Wearing his full clerical garb, with scarlet cap and robe, he preached and offered simple lessons, like the importance of laughing at oneself. Signing off at the end of his show, “Life Is Worth Living,” he often raised his hands above his head with a performer’s pizazz.
Sheen was what we would call today a multimedia personality — from 1925 until 1968, he wrote over seventy-three books, hosted his own radio show, and later, two television shows.
His weekly Sunday night radio broadcast was The Catholic Hour, and he even conducted the first religious service broadcast on television. In 1951, his television show, Life is Worth Living, consisted of him and a live audience, occasionally speaking with a chalkboard.
It was fairly well known for being able to stand against ratings giants Milton “Uncle Milte” Berle and Frank Sinatra, leading Berle to joke, “He uses old material, too.” Sheen responded in jest that people should start calling him “Uncle Fultie”.
When Sheen won an Emmy in 1952, he accepted the acknowledgment by saying, “I feel it is time I pay tribute to my four writers—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.”
“Kneel down and let me hear your confession.”
Being a former Catholic, one of Louis’s assigned tasks was to infiltrate the Catholic Church in the United States so as to soften its anti-Communist stance. Among his targets was the well-known radio personality and eloquent anti-Communist, Msgr. Fulton Sheen. Budenz got nowhere. At a dinner meeting in 1936, Monsignor Sheen refused to engage Louis on the issue of Communism’s merits. Instead, the monsignor invited Louis to “kneel down and let me hear your confession.” The two parted on less than amicable terms.
But grace gnawed at Louis. Once, during his Communist days, he wrote “Catholic” as his religion when checking into a hospital. Margaret noticed, was shocked, and supposed that he was jesting. They only spoke about it years later. Louis said that, even though he was officially atheist at the time, he did not wish to die without the consolation of the sacraments. It was but one marker on the long road back to faith.
When the signs of Louis’s return to Catholicism became clear, Margaret struggled to accept it. She remained certain of their love and unity, and so she applied herself to understanding the religion to which he was attracted. It wasn’t easy, but the dialectic of communist materialism gradually gave way to the harmony of faith and reason as the riches of Catholicism were opened up to her under the tutelage of Monsignor Sheen and the influence of her own diligent research.
Editor’s note: This proven strategy often works on non-communists, too.
A kinder, gentler Michael Voris shifts into “high gear”
by Doug Lawrence
At his latest “Majesty of the Faith” all-day conference, held Saturday April 30, in west suburban St. Charles, Illinois, Michael Voris of St. Michael’s Media and Real Catholic TV, spent relatively little time criticizing the modernist church, or taking to task errant bishops and priests. Instead, he offered the approximately 100 serious, dedicated Catholics in attendance, a finely crafted, highly nuanced and very powerful view of the glory and majesty of the ancient faith that we have come to call “Catholic”… as it was originally founded by He who IS the Majesty of the Faith … Jesus Christ … and handed down to us, by the apostles.
Mr. Voris did a masterful job of weaving together some 2000 years of Catholic scripture, tradition, and authentic church teachings, in a way that not only captured everyone’s attention (for about six hours, in total) but fully engaged their hearts and minds, as well.
Returning from our lunch break, a short Q&A session revealed an extraordinary and inspiring level of enthusiasm and curiosity from virtually all those assembled, who ranged in age from around 12 to almost 90 … some of whom traveled nearly a hundred miles, to get there.
To put it mildly, Michael’s timeless message of faith was received with enthusiasm and grace, by all. It was truly a beautiful thing to behold!
Just a few comments, from those who attended:
“The man speaks the truth!”
“We need to get Michael to come to our parish.”
“I never really understood the Bible, before today.”
“This is the kind of stuff that will really make Catholics come home!”
The late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, one of Michael’s favorite Catholic theologians and speakers (and mine) would have been proud to have been there, to hear him. And perhaps he was!
As one of the sponsors of the event, I would like to thank Michael Voris for all his great work and dedication, all those who attended, all the other program sponsors, and especially, the Weber family, who really did all the “grunt work” of putting the whole thing together.
Real Catholic TV also offers a themed video series on “The Majesty of the Faith”, which can be viewed on your computer or smart phone. Visit the Real Catholic TV site.
By Thomas Reeves
When Sheen went on television in February 1952, his Life Is Worth Living programs became extremely popular, competing effectively against shows starring “Mr. Television,” Milton Berle, and singer-actor Frank Sinatra.
As 1999 ended, there was speculation about who had been the greatest, most popular, most significant, or most influential Catholic of the preceding 100 years. When it came to the world, Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa scored high on virtually every list. In the United States, names such as Francis Cardinal Spellman, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Al Smith, and John F. Kennedy received considerable attention. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen received little notice.
It is my contention that Sheen was the most influential Catholic of 20th-century America. Indeed, it could be argued that his impact was far superior to others receiving more attention in polls and in the media.
In the first place, he was the most popular public speaker in the Church, and arguably the best. Millions listened to his Catholic Hour radio programs from 1928 to 1952. Millions also received printed copies of these talks. In 1949, Gladys Baker, a noted journalist, observed that Sheen was “the name priest in America.” She added, “By members of all faiths, Monsignor Sheen is conceded to be the most electric orator of our times.”
When Sheen went on television in February 1952, his Life Is Worth Living programs became extremely popular, competing effectively against shows starring “Mr. Television,” Milton Berle, and singer-actor Frank Sinatra. A television critic exclaimed, “Bishop Sheen can’t sing, can’t dance, and can’t act. All he is…is sensational.” In his first year on television, Sheen won the Emmy for Most Outstanding Television Personality, winning over media giants Lucille Ball, Arthur Godfrey, Edward R. Murrow, and Jimmy Durante. After winning, he was featured on the covers of Time, TV Guide, Colliers, and Look. The journalist James Conniff stated, “No Catholic bishop has burst on the world with such power as Sheen wields since long before the Protestant Reformation.” By early 1955, his programs were reaching 5.5 million households a week.
Father Robert Barron’s
Catholic video homilies and commentaries
on key issues of the day.
Michael Voris’ “Real Catholic TV”
Traditional Catholic videos
on a host of different topics.
Timeless Catholic videos
by the late Archbishop Fulton J Sheen
It doesn’t get any better!
Bishop Sheen discusses the radical transformation of love from the Catholic perspective which has helped change the world as we know it. This form of love is from the Greek word agape, which in Latin is caritas, which translated into English is the word “charity.”
Historically, Catholics have used the word charity in lieu of agape, though many still think of the Salvation Army, or corporal works of mercy when they hear that word, instead of this really unprecedented form of love. Have a look at this passage from Archbishop Sheen’s little book,
The third word for love was not much used in the classical Greek; it was a love so noble and divine that Christianity alone made it popular. That word is “agape.” It was used only ten times by Homer; it is found only three times in Euripedes; later on, it was used a bit in popular Greek which was spoken throughout the world after Alexander conquered it.
The Greeks did not need such a word, because Plato held that there could be no real love between God and man, inasmuch as the gods being perfect desired nothing; therefore, they had no love for man. Aristotle argued in the same way. He said that there was too great a disporportion between man and God to have any love between the two.
When God sent His only Son to this world to save it, and when His Divine Son offered His life on Calvary to redeem it, then was born a love between God and man which the Greeks could not and did not understand. That kind of love was best expressed by “agape.” In contrast to it, the word “eros” is nowhere found in the New Testament; the word “Philia” in all its forms is found forty-five times, but the word “agape” is found 320 times.
Once this agape began to exist, then it flowed down to illumine even Eros; Eros became the sensible expression of Divine Love; fraternal and friendly love was also sanctified by the agape inasmuch as we were to regard everyone else as better than ourselves. The only true lovers or friends are those whose love is explained by the agape of Him who so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son to redeem it.
Denver, Colo., Jul 24, 2010 / 08:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A documentary on the life of Archbishop Fulton Sheen is being shown in pre-release screenings across the country, as part of an effort to raise awareness of the late archbishop, whose cause for sainthood is currently underway.
The hour-long documentary, entitled, “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All,” offers both entertainment and a powerful message of evangelization as it follows the life of the famous archbishop (1895-1979). The video includes the testimonies of dozens of individuals who were touched by the life of the archbishop. It also shows footage from his popular television program, “Life is Worth Living.”
Who is going to save our Church?
Not our Bishops,
not our priests and religious.
It is up to the people.
You have the minds, the eyes,
the ears to save the Church.
Your mission is to see that
your priests act like priests,
your bishops like bishops,
and your religious act like religious.
~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
“Truth”
The world is rapidly being divided into two camps,
the comradeship of anti-Christ and the brotherhood of Christ.
The lines between these two are being drawn.
How long the battle will be, we know not.
Whether swords will have to be unsheathed, we know not.
Whether blood will have to be shed, we know not.
Whether it be an armed conflict,
we know not.
But in a conflict between truth and darkness,
truth cannot lose.
~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Submitted by Bob Stanley
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was the first television evangelist … preaching and teaching on prime time TV, back in “the good old days”.
His wit,wisdom, style, and sense of humor makes listening easy, and his extraordinary understanding of the authentic Catholic faith also makes listening essential.
Just about the only presentations available today that are anything like Archbishop Sheen’s come from Father Corapi, who is a great preacher and teacher, in his own right.
Over 50 (typically 30 minute long) audio presentations are available free for the listening, on virtually every aspect of the Catholic faith.
Click here to visit the Archnishop Fulton J. Sheen audio site
Quote from the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen:
“Who is going to save our Church? Not our Bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops like bishops and your religious act like religious”
My response to a reader comment shocked me.
Remembering simpler times. Were they really better?
by Doug Lawrence
Responding to a recent comment about the teachings of the pre-Vatican II Catholic Church, I wrote:
I lived during the era of the pre-Vatican II Church, so I’m an eye-witness.
Way back then, 75% of Catholics attended Mass every Sunday. Urban renewal projects had yet to break up and disperse faithful Catholic communities. Contraception and abortion were not yet central issues of the day. The clarity of Catholic teaching was superb.
The quality of Catholic schools was excellent and the tuition was easily affordable, even for families with many children. Catholic churches were beautiful. Men and women religious were numerous, orthodox, and wholly dedicated to their work.
The liturgy was traditional, Latin, and quite adequate. The seminaries had yet to be liberalized and feminized, so there was an abundance of good priests available to serve the needs of most parishes.
In those days, the Catholic Church was respected, all around the world. We had a strong Pope in the Vatican, no nonsense bishops running most of the dioceses, and Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen proclaiming Catholic truth to the masses every week, on network TV.
Of course, there were a few “bad apples” and scandals, even then. But the pre-Vatican II church knew how to properly handle them.
Then there was Vatican II … somebody put the radicals in charge … the church tore itself apart, lost its focus, along with much of its good sense, and with a few exceptions, things have been going downhill ever since.
Were things really that good, back then? Comments, anyone?
Thanks to Cathy for the original comment!
January 6, 2013
Categories: Books & Publications, Events, history, Human Rights, Inspirational, Politics, Religious Ed, Scandals, Videos, Photos, Audio . Tags: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Catholic-Church, latin, mass, priests, reader comment, Religious, schools, Vatican II . Author: Doug Lawrence . Comments: 2 Comments