Photo Caption: Pope Benedict XVI has approved the heroic virtues of Diocese of Peoria native Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, declaring him “venerable” and clearing the way for the advancement of his sainthood cause.

By: By Tom Dermody

News that Pope Benedict XVI approved the heroic virtues of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and that the pioneering Catholic televangelist should be considered “venerable” was greeted with joy around the world on June 28, but especially in his native Diocese of Peoria.

“This is a great day for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and the Catholic Church in America,” said Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC.

That Thursday morning, Bishop Jenky and others awoke to the quickly spreading news that the pope had signed a decree issued by the Congregation for Saints Causes clearing the way for the advancement of Archbishop Sheen’s sainthood cause.

“Venerable” is the second of four key steps in the canonization process. Pope John Paul II had declared Archbishop Sheen a “Servant of God” following initiation of the cause by the Diocese of Peoria in 2002.

“I give thanks to God that the heroic virtues of a son from central Illinois and a priest of Peoria have been recognized by the Catholic Church and he has now been raised to the rank of venerable,” said Bishop Jenky.

CELEBRATION SET SEPT. 9
The bishop announced that he will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving to honor Venerable Archbishop Sheen at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

The Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation has launched a new website, CelebrateSheen.com, to provide updated details of that event and other celebrations. Through the site, the Foundation is also accepting reservations for a brunch that will follow the Mass of Thanksgiving, which is open to the public and expected to pack the cathedral.

Msgr. Stanley Deptula, executive director of the Sheen Foundation, said it was no coincidence that the church rendered its decision on Archbishop Sheen’s heroic virtues “on the same day as the Supreme Court issues its decision on the health care plan.”

“Today, more than ever, the church in America needs heroes to inspire to stand up and to fall on our knees,” said Msgr. Deptula after hearing the announcement. “I think in a special way, Venerable Fulton Sheen can be an inspiration and a consolation to our bishops and other church leaders. He was a man of courage, and a priest of prayer.”

Born May 8, 1895, in El Paso, Ill., he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria in 1919.

Archbishop Sheen, who died in 1979, is perhaps best known for his radio and television ministry. His “Life is Worth Living” national television program aired from 1952 through 1957 and drew millions of viewers weekly. A prolific author, Archbishop Sheen also served as head of the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966 and inspired worldwide support for Catholic missions.

He won an Emmy Award for his television work and was a Time Magazine “Man of the Year” in 1952.

CAUSE PROCEEDING QUICKLY
The decree came only 13 months after Bishop Jenky, Msgr. Deptula, and a diocesan delegation traveled to the Vatican to present Pope Benedict with two thick volumes on the life of Archbishop Sheen.

As to the timeline for next steps — beatification and canonization — “only God knows and we never presume,” said Msgr. Deptula during a national teleconference on June 29.

“Only God makes saints, and only the church declares someone a saint.”
But Msgr. Deptula acknowledged “the historic speed” with which the cause is progressing.

“This cause enjoys the support of cardinals and bishops and priests around the world — so much did Fulton Sheen mean in their own lives and their vocation,” said Msgr. Deptula. He admitted “there’s still a lot of work to do, the need for a lot of prayers, and — if I might say — a lot of donations to keep this cause going.”

In general, the church must confirm two miracles before sainthood is declared. The first miracle is needed for beatification and the second for canonization. If declared a saint, Archbishop Sheen might be the first American-born male saint.

The Sheen Foundation has documentation for three alleged miracles. The one recommended for investigation by the Vatican is the case of James Fulton Engstrom. The son of Travis and Bonnie Engstrom of Goodfield was without a pulse for the first 61 minutes of his life. His parents believe James is alive — and well as he nears his second birthday — due to a healing by Jesus and the intercession of Archbishop Sheen, to whom they prayed.

WIDESPREAD JOY AT ANNOUNCEMENT
Also taking part in the June 29 teleconference were Father Andrew Apostoli, vice postulator for the cause; Msgr. Richard Soseman, coordinator of the International Outreach for the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation; and Father Andrew Small, national director of Pontifical Mission Societies.

The panel explained the significance of the designation of “venerable.”

“To be declared venerable means you have displayed virtues that the rest of us can try to imitate,” said Bishop Jenky, pointing out that Archbishop Sheen was a “man of holiness” and of “intense daily prayer” who preached and taught relentlessly.

Father Apostoli said the venerable title “is really the church’s stamp of approval that his life of virtue and holiness was authentic.”

The designation benefits those now living more than Archbishop Sheen, said Msgr. Deptula.

“By looking at Sheen’s life, at Sheen’s struggles, at Sheen’s teachings, the rest of us can learn how to better live our own lives in the context of this modern world,” he said.

Msgr. Soseman explained that, at this time, there are no liturgical commemorations of Archbishop Sheen as there would be for a saint or a “blessed.”

But “people can certainly rejoice and they are rejoicing worldwide in the declaration of venerable and looking at his example,” said Msgr. Soseman, a priest of the Diocese of Peoria who has served at the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy in Rome since 2008.

Father Apostoli said the impact would be “enormous” if Archbishop Sheen were to be declared a saint.

“He is so well known,” said Father Apostoli. “So many people tell me they listen to his tapes. They read his books. They say, ‘You know, he could have given that talk yesterday.’ That’s how contemporary he is.”

FAMILY MEMBERS
Msgr. Deptula said he expects that many of Archbishop Sheen’s family members will attend the Sept. 9 Mass of Thanksgiving.

“Our landscape is dotted with Fultons or Sheens,” he told The Catholic Post. “We have heard from some of the family members. They were almost in tears yesterday. They knew Fulton Sheen very well in life and always knew that he was a hero that lived a life worthy of imitation.”

The Vatican also announced papal decrees approving the beatification of 158 men and women, including 156 martyrs, all but two of them Spaniards, killed during their country’s 1936-39 Civil War.

Father Giuseppe Puglisi, a Sicilian priest and activist against organized crime who was killed by the Mafia in 1993, was another of the martyrs recognized.

Martyrs do not need a miracle attributed to their intercession in order to be beatified. However, miracles must be recognized by the Vatican in order for martyrs to be canonized.

Other decrees recognized the heroic virtues of eight men and women, including:

— Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, the first prelate of Opus Dei;

— Mother Marie-Joseph-te Fitzbach, founder of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec, and

— Mother Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, the Irish-born founder of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, who died in New York state in 1984.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Parts of this story were from Catholic News Service reports.