The Vatican announced that the Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be beatified on September 24 in St. Louis.
Monsignor Roger Landry, national director of Pontifical Mission Societies US, told EWTN News, “Sheen is an inspiration not only to all of us who continue the work of prayer and support for the Church’s missionary work around the world, but also to all whose faith has been strengthened by his preaching, broadcasting, writings and holy Catholic life.”
The Holy See officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that after years of challenges and delays, Sheen’s cause could be beatified in February.
On March 25, Vatican Dicastery for the Interests of the Saints Landry said it was “indescribable joy” when it was announced that “Sheen, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies from 1950-1966, would be beatified in St. Louis on September 24.”
He added, “I am also thrilled that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, first evangelist of the Vatican’s evangelization department and proponent of the section on new special churches, will be the papal legate, celebrant and preacher of the Beatification Mass in Missouri.”
“Like Sheen, Cardinal Tagle is not only an incredibly gifted preacher, but he will undoubtedly be able to emphasize the contributions that the soon-to-be Blessed Fulton Sheen made and continues to make to the mission work of the Church in so many ways,” he said.
Landry said the announcement, which coincided with the solemnization of the announcement, is “so very appropriate.” “Archbishop Sheen spent his life continuing the work of the Archangel Gabriel, calling us to rejoice because the Lord is with us, and emulating Mary’s response in placing himself as a servant of the Lord, allowing his entire life to develop according to the Word of the Lord.”
Respected Fulton Sheen
Peter John Sheen was born on May 8, 1895 in El Paso, Illinois and was called “Fulton” in honor of his mother’s maiden name. Sheen was ordained a priest of the Peoria Diocese on September 20, 1919.
On June 11, 1951, he was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York and held the position until 1966. He was named Bishop of Rochester, New York until his retirement in 1969 at the age of 74.
He became known as a pioneer of television advertising with his Emmy-winning show “Life Is Worth Living.” The show aired on television from 1952 to 1957, discussing morality and Catholicism.
Sheen died of heart disease on December 9, 1979.
The case for canonization of Sheen was first opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, Sheen’s birthplace, and since then he has become known as a Servant of God. Pope Benedict XVI declared him Venerable in June 2012.
On March 6, 2014, the Board of Medical Experts, which advises the then-Congregation for the Causes of Saints, unanimously approved Sheen’s alleged miracle, in which a stillborn child was saved due to his intervention.
Pope Francis approved Sheen’s miracle on July 5, 2019.
