mercredi 8 octobre 2014

The Life Of Archbishop Fulton Sheen

By Jocelyn Davidson


Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? This is a quote by the American Roman Catholic Archbishop Fulton Sheen. He was one of the most visible Catholics of 1950s whose preaching was famous in radio and television. In fact, he is regarded as the first televangelist who brought church to 30 million American living rooms.

Sheen was born in Illinois, Chicago in May 1895 as Fulton John Sheen. Later, the family relocated to Peoria where he was picked for altar boy and where he would later be ordained to a priest. For his basic education, he attended schools around Illinois. Later, he proceeded to Washington to study Philosophy at the Catholic University of America.

Later, Sheen proceeded to the Catholic University of American in Washington to study Philosophy. He got a doctorate in Philosophy at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. It was during his stay that he was awarded the Cardinal Mercier prize, an award that rewards recipients for their contribution to Philosophy. Later, he left to begin service as a bishop in New York.

Media evangelism was begun by Fulton in 1930. His first program was a weekly radio broadcast on Sundays called Catholic Hour. This was during the era of World War II and he used this platform to condemn the war. In addition, the first ever mass to be conducted on mass media was conducted by him around this time. He was awarded an Emmy from the popularity of his television program among viewers.

Archbishop Fulton was not short of controversy. Perhaps the most remembered broadcast was in 1953 where he publicly denounced the regime of Joseph Stalin. Dramatically, he used the burial scene from Julius Caesar from Shakespeare to predict doom to Stalin and other Soviet leaders of the time. His last words were that Stalin should one day face his judgment. True to his word, Stalin died within the week from stroke.

A cardiac condition claimed the life of Fulton in 1979. The remains were buried in a crypt in New York at St. Patricks cathedral where he served. In 2002, his cause for canonization was begun and resulted in servant of God title for him. Ten years later, his journey toward beatification was started by approval of the Vatican through granting him the title of Venerable.

Before one is considered for beatification, they have to have performed a miracle. The event that is defined to be a miracle should be beyond the explanation of science or nature. In the case of Sheen, he is said to have healed a baby boy who was declared stillborn after missing a pulse for 61 minutes. The mother of infant is said to have interceded to Fulton. The infant survived with no impairments and the case proved beyond scientific explanation by a Vatican medical team.

As a result, beatification of Sheen is in its last stages which will earn him the title blessed. This is an important step in the journey of canonization although another miracle might be necessary. The challenge at the present moment is his remains which are in New York and are required for an examination in his home church. All his fans hope that Sheen is canonized eventually.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire