The Cause

The Cause for Canonization

The Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation is the official promoter of the Cause for the Canonization of Archbishop Sheen.  It is the goal of the Foundation to introduce a new generation to the holy priest, missionary and communicator, Fulton J Sheen, and to move the Church to proclaim him a saint.

MISSION STATEMENT

The purpose of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation is to make known the life, works and thoughts of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, to bring people to Christ through Archbishop Sheen, and to advance the Cause for the Canonization of Archbishop Sheen in the Catholic Church, according to the process prescribed in the Code of Canon Law under the supervision of the bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois.

History

The Archbishop Sheen Foundation was formed in 1998 by two men dedicated to the late Archbishop: Gregory J. Ladd of Highland, IN and Lawrence F. Hickey of New York, NY. It was the Foundation that initially approached the Archbishop of New York, the late John Cardinal O’Connor, for permission to pursue steps leading to the opening of the Cause for Canonization. Cardinal O’Connor gave his permission to begin gathering data about Archbishop Sheen that could be useful towards his possible canonization. Later, Edward Cardinal Egan, the successor to Cardinal O’Connor as Archbishop of New York, allowed the Foundation to approach the Bishop of Peoria regarding the possibility of opening Archbishop Sheen’s Cause.

The Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation functions as the “promoter of the Cause” for the Canonization of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. The first major task of the Foundation was the gathering of information about the life, virtues, and apostolic works of Archbishop Sheen. This was done primarily through contact with people who knew the Archbishop personally and so can testify as witnesses to his sanctity. The Foundation also had to oversee a critical theological review of all of the Archbishop’s writings.

Canon Law requires that for a bishop to petition that a cause be opened, he must have sufficient proof that the candidate for sainthood possesses a true and widespread reputation for two important qualities. The first is a “reputation for holiness.” This means that the People of God, especially those who knew that candidate for sainthood personally, genuinely esteemed him or her to have been a saintly person. The second is a “reputation for intercessory power.” This means that people who have prayed to God through the intercession of the candidate for sainthood have received real physical or spiritual favors as a result, such as a healing of illness, help through a personal or family crisis, a personal conversion or the conversion of a loved one, and the like. The Foundation was already able to offer some of this proof to Bishop Daniel Jenky, C.S.C., to move him to open the Cause.

In 2002, recognizing Sheen’s mid-west roots, Bishop Daniel Jenky, C.S.C, of the Diocese of Peoria, officially petitioned the Vatican to open the Cause for Sheen’s beatification and canonization. Witness and documentation to Sheen’s life and sanctity were gathered from around the world. In February 2008, 22 volumes of testimony and evidence were sent to the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints in the Vatican, concluding the diocesan phase of the beatification process. These documents join the testimony of two alleged miracles attributed to Sheen’s intercession sent to the Vatican in 2006.

The Positio (a summation of the life and works of Archbishop Fulton Sheen) was presented to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria on May 25, 2011. The Pope mentioned to Bishop Jenky that he knew Archbishop Sheen personally and worked with him during Vatican II.

The Diocesan Inquiry into an alleged miracle through the intercession of the Servant of God was completed on December 11, 2011 by Msgr. Jason Gray. The alleged miracle involved the restoration of a stillborn child, James Fulton Engstrom, after 61 minutes without heartbeat or respiration.

On June 28, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI recognized the heroic virtues of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, decreeing the title of Venerable.

Sheen Body arrives in Peoria IL on June 27, 2019.

The miracle attributed to Sheen has been unanimously approved by doctors, theologians, and cardinals in the Congregation of the Causes of Saints and was officially recognized by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, on July 6, 2019.

 

Sainthood Process

VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1997 (VIS) – Today the Holy See Press Office made public the following note on canonical procedure for causes of beatification and canonization:

  1. Canon norms regarding the procedure to be followed for causes of saints are contained in the Apostolic Constitution ‘Divinus Perfectionis Magister, promulgated by John Paul II on January 25, 1983.
  2. To begin a cause it is necessary for at least 5 years to have passed since the death of the candidate. This is to allow greater balance and objectivity in evaluating the case and to let the emotions of the moment dissipate.
  3. The bishop of the diocese in which the person whose beatification is being requested is responsible for beginning the investigation. The promoter group or Actor Causae i.e. the diocese, parish, religious congregation,  or association, asks the bishop through the postulator for the opening of the investigation. The bishop, once the nulla osta of the Holy See is obtained, forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount concrete facts on the exercise of Christian virtues considered heroic, that is, the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, and others specific to his state in life. In addition, all documents regarding the candidate must be gathered. At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God.
  4. Once the diocesan investigation is finished, the acts and documentation are passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The public copy of the Acts is assembled here for the use of the Postulator, who must reside in Rome and who follows the preparation of the Positio, or summary of the documentation that proves the heroic exercise of virtue, under the direction of a relater of the Congregation. The Positio undergoes an examination (theological) by nine theologians who give their vote. If the majority of the theologians are in favor, the cause is passed on for examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation. They hold meetings twice a month. If their judgment is favorable, the prefect of the congregation presents the results of the entire course of the cause to the Holy Father, who gives his approval and authorizes the congregation to draft the relative decree. The public reading and promulgation of the decree follows. At this point he is entitled to the title of Venerable.
  5. For the beatification of a confessor (i.e. a person who is not proposed as a martyr), a miracle attributed to the Servant of God, verified after his death, is necessary. The required miracle must be proven through the appropriate canonical investigation, following a procedure analogous to that for heroic virtues. This one too is concluded with the relative decree. Once the two decrees are promulgated (regarding the heroic virtues and the miracle) the Holy Father decides on beatification, which is the concession of public worship, limited to a particular sphere. With beatification the candidate receives the title of Blessed.
  6. For canonization another miracle is needed, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his beatification. The methods for ascertainment of the affirmed miracle are the same as those followed for beatification. Canonization is understood as the concession of public worship in the Universal Church. Pontifical infallibility is involved. With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint.

Vatican Information Service.

Noteable Converts

Fulton Sheen’s message reached both Catholics and Non-Catholics. During his life, he brought countless people to the Catholic faith, some of whom were very well known.

  • Clare Booth Luce
  • Henry Ford II
  • Heywood Broun
  • Louis Francis Budenz
  • Joe Mielziner
  • Bella Dodd
  • Horace Mann
  • Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler
  • Virginia Mayo

Books and Writings

Bibliography of Sheen Books, Booklets, Pamphlets and Anthologies

Books 

  1. God and Intelligence. London:  Longmans-Green, 1925.
  2. Religion Without God. London: Longmans-Green, 1928.
  3. The Life of All Living: The Philosophy of Life.  New York:  The Century Co., 1929; also published in an abridged version with an altered subtitle by Popular Library, New York, 1929.
  4. The Divine Romance. New York:  The Century Co., 1930.
  5. Old Errors and New Labels. New York; The Century Co., 1931.
  6. Moods and Truths. New York:  The Century Co., 1932.
  7. Way of the Cross. New York:  Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1932.
  8. The Philosophy of Science. Milwaukee:  The Bruce Publishing Co., 1934.
  9. The Eternal Galilean. New York:  Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1934.
  10. The Mystical Body of Christ. New York: Sheed and Ward, 1935.
  11. Calvary and the Mass: A Missal Companion. New York P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1936.
  12. The Moral Universe: A Preface to Christian Living. Milwaukee:  The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936.
  13. The Cross and the Beatitudes. New York, 1937
  14. The Cross and the Crisis. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1938.
  15. The Rainbow of Sorrow. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1938; published in the same year by Garden City Books, Garden City, New York.
  16. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. New York: Macmillan, 1938.
  17. Victory over Vice. New York. P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1939.
  18. Freedom under God. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1940.
  19. The Seven Virtues. New York; P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1940.
  20. Whence Comes War. New York: Sheed and Ward, 1940.
  21. For God and Country. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1940.
  22. A Declaration of Dependence. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1941.
  23. God and War. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1942.
  24. The Armor of God. Reflections and Prayers for Wartime, New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1943.  (An abridgement, titled The Shield of Faith, was published on the same day by the same publisher.)
  25. The Divine Verdict. New York: P. J. Kennedy and Sons, 1943.
  26. Philosophies at War. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1943.
  27. Seven Words of the Cross. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1944.
  28. Love One Another. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1944.
  29. Seven Pillars of Peace. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1944.
  30. Seven Words of Jesus and Mary. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1945.
  31. Preface to Religion. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1946.
  32. Characters of the Passion. Garden City, New York: Garden City Books, 1946.  (Also published by P. J. Kennedy and Sons in 1947.)
  33. Philosophy of Religion: The Impact of Modern Knowledge on Religion. New York:  Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1948.
  34. Communism and the Conscience of the West. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1948.
  35. Peace of Soul. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1949.
  36. Lift Up Your Heart. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1950.
  37. Three to Get Married. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1951.
  38. The World’s First Love. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1952.  (An abridged version, titled The World’s Great Love; The Prayer of the Rosary, was published in 1978 by Seabury Press, New York.).
  39. Way to Happiness. New York: Maco Magazine Corp., 1953.  (Republished the following year by Garden City Books, Garden City, New York.)
  40. Life Is Worth Living. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1953+.
  41. Life Is Worth Living, Second Series. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1954+.
  42. The Church, Communism, and Democracy. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1954+.
  43. Life Is Worth Living, Fourth Series. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1954+.
  44. The Life of Christ. New York. Maco Magazine Corp., 1954.
  45. Way to Happy Living. New York: Maco Magazine Corp., 1955.
  46. Thinking Life Through. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1955+.
  47. God Love You. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1955.
  48. Way to Inner Peace. Garden City, New York: Garden City Books, 1955.
  49. Thoughts for Daily Living. Garden City, New York: Garden City  Books, 1956.  (Also published in 1956 by Browne and Nolan, Dublin, Ireland.)
  50. Life Is Worth Living, Fifth Series. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1957.
  51. Science, Psychiatry and Religion. New York: Dell, 1957.
  52. Life of Christ. New York: McGraw Hill, 1958.
  53. Go to Heaven. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1960.
  54. These Are the Sacraments. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1962.  (Revised edition published in 1964 by Doubleday, Garden City, New York.)
  55. The Priest is Not His Own. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963.
  56. Missions and the World Crisis. Milwaukee: Bruce Press, 1963.
  57. The Power of Love. New York: Maco Magazine Corp., 1964.  (Published in 1965 by Simon and Schuster, New York.)
  58. Walk with God. New York: Maco Magazine Corp., 1965.
  59. Christmas Inspirations. New York: Maco Magazine Corp., 1966.  (Republished in 1984 as Rejoice! By Doubleday, Garden City, New York.)
  60. Footprints in a Darkened Forest: Vital Words for Today’s Changing World. New York:  Meredith Press, 1967.
  61. Guide to Contentment. New York: Maco Publishing Co., 1967.
  62. Lenten and Easter Inspirations. New York: Maco Publishing Co., 1967. (Republished in 1984 as Cross-Ways:  A Book of Inspiration by Doubleday, Garden City, New York.)
  63. Children and Parents. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1970.
  64. Those Mysterious Priests. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1974.
  65. That Tremendous Love: An anthology of Inspirational Quotations, Poems, Prayers and Philosophical Comments. New York: Harper and Row, 1967.
  66. Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen. New York:  Doubleday, 1980

(+ printed television talks)

 

Booklets

  1. The Way of the Cross. New York: Appleton-Century- Crofts, 1932. (Also published by Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, Indiana in 1932 and by Gardens City Books, Garden City, New York in 1933.)
  2. The Seven Last Words. New York: The Century Co., 1933.
  3. Jesus, Son of Mary. New York: The Declan X. McMullan Co., 1933.
  4. The Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary. St Paul: Catechetical Guide and Educational Society, 1951.
  5. Crisis in History. St. Paul: Catechetical Guide and Educational Society, 1952.
  6. The True Meaning of Christmas. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1955.
  7. Church of the Poor or the “Poor” Church. New York: Mission, 1963.

 

Pamphlets

  1. The Lord’s Prayer on the Cross. Paterson, New Jersey: St. Anthony’s Guild, 1936.
  2. Tactics of Communism. New York: Paulist Press, 1936
  3. Liberty under Communism. New York: Paulist Press, 1936.
  4. Communism: The Opium of the People. Paterson, New Jersey:  St. Anthony’s Guild, 1937.
  5. Communism Answers Questions of a Communist. New York:  Paulist Press, 1937.
  6. Communism and Religion. New York: Paulist Press, 1937.
  7. The Way of the Cross of Our Enemies. Paterson, New Jersey: St. Anthony’s Guild, 1938.
  8. The Conversion of Heywood Broun: A Funeral Sermon Preached by Fulton J. Sheen.  New York:  The Saint Paul Guild, 1939.
  9. What Can I Do? Washington, D.C.: National Council of Catholic Men, 1942.
  10. The Christian Order and the Family. New York: Catholic Information Society, 1944?
  11. The Moral Basis of Preach, Related to the Dumbarton Oaks Conference. San Francisco: Monitor Press, 1945.
  12. East Meets West. New York: Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 1946.
  13. The Ideological Fallacies of Communism, with Solomon Andhil Fineberg and Daniel A. Poling. Washington, D.C.: HUAC pamphlet #97608, 1957.
  14. The World’s Great Love: The Prayer of the Rosary. New York: Seabury Press, 1978.

 

Catholic Hour Publications

  1. The Enrollment of the World. New York;  Paulist Press, 1928.
  2. The Divine Romance. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1930.

(Published the same year as a book of the same title.)

  1. Manifestations of Christ. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1932.
  2. The Way of the Cross. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1932.
  3. Seven Last Words. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1933.
  4. The Hymn of the Conquered. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1933.
  5. The Eternal Galilean. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1934.

(Also published the same year as a book of the same title.)

  1. The Queen of Seven Swords. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1934.
  2. The Fullness of Christ. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1935.
  3. The Prodigal World: Social Reconstruction is Conditioned upon Spiritual Regeneration. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1936.
  4. Our Wounded World. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1937.
  5. Freedom and Democracy: A Study of Their Enemies. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1937.
  6. Justice and Charity, Part 1, The Social Problem and the Church. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1938.
  7. Justice and Charity, Part 2, The Individual Problem and the Cross. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1938.
  8. Patriotism. New Haven, Connecticut:  Knights of Columbus, 1938.
  9. Cardinal Hayes: A Eulogy by Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1938.
  10. Pius XI: A Eulogy by Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen.  Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1939.
  11. Freedom, Part One. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1939.
  12. Freedom, Part Two. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1939.
  13. Communism, Capitalism, and Property: Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1939.
  14. Peace: The Fruit of Justice.  Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1941.
  15. The Seven Last Words and the Seven Virtues. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1930.
  16. War and Guilt. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1941.
  17. Freedom and Peace. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1941.
  18. Christ in Exile. Washington, D.C.: The Bishops Relief Committee, 1941.
  19. Peace. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1942.
  20. The Crisis in Christendom. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1943.
  21. One Lord, One World. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1944.
  22. Friends. Washington, D.C.: National Council of Catholic Men, 1945.
  23. You. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1945.
  24. The Seventh Word: The Purpose of Life.  Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1945.
  25. Easter. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1945.
  26. Love on Pilgrimage. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1946.
  27. The Holy Hour: Readings and Prayers for a Daily Hour of Meditation.  Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1946?
  28. Light Your Lamps. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1947.
  29. The Modern Soul in Search of God. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1948.
  30. The Love That Waits for You. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1949.
  31. The Rock Plunged into Eternity. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1950.
  32. The Woman. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1951.
  33. Life of Christ. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1952.

41. The Prodigal World. Huntington, Indiana:  Our Sunday Visitor, 1952

The Sheen Foundation is a non-profit organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
Tax I.D. 37-1411870

© Copyright 2023 Archbishop Fulton Sheen • Design by TBare.com