Posted on 09/24/2026 12:35:08 PM PDT by Antoninus
Melania and I join all those celebrating the life and legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen—the Catholic priest who pioneered the use of media to speak the truth, preach the Gospel, and bring many souls closer to Christ. Today, Archbishop Sheen will become the first-ever American-born bishop to be beatified by the Catholic Church.
Born on the plains of central Illinois at the twilight of the nineteenth century, Fulton Sheen was blessed with extraordinary intelligence, good humor, and eloquence. After his ordination to the priesthood, he spent more than two decades teaching, lecturing, and broadcasting on the radio before he was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of New York in 1951. With a growing reputation as a world-class preacher and evangelist, he then launched his renowned national television series, Life Is Worth Living, which soon captivated the entire country.
On his show, Archbishop Sheen lectured before a live audience on an array of theological, philosophical, and political topics. Dressed in striking priestly robes and armed with only a chalk stick and blackboard, he quickly emerged as a primetime sensation—boldly bringing the teachings of Christianity to a world threatened by the titanic forces of communism.
Archbishop Sheen shocked the entertainment industry by besting American legends like Milton Berle and Frank Sinatra in weekly ratings, winning an Emmy award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and appearing on the cover of Time magazine. For years, his sharp wit and piercing intellect filled millions of American living rooms and converted thousands—including national politicians, Hollywood celebrities, and communist leaders—to the Catholic faith. His program attracted an estimated 30 million weekly viewers, ultimately becoming one of the most watched religious programs in the history of television. Through it all, Archbishop Sheen used his platform not for his own sake but to strengthen our Nation with the good news of the Gospel.
In the 1960s, against the rising tide of anti-God extremism in American culture, Archbishop Sheen turned to the camera to identify a “new type of violence that’s sweeping our country, our schools, and our streets.” This violence, he warned in his later career The Fulton Sheen Program, “involves destruction of everything that is in the past.” He continued, “Our Nation is too full of those that are crying, “Down… Down with schools. Down with the churches. Down with teachers. Down with government. Down with the police. Can you build anything down?” he implored the Nation. “You cannot… Let’s begin now to use the word ‘Up.’ Up from all of this filth. Up from this violence… Up—up to God.”
Sheen was later appointed as the Bishop of Rochester, New York, and the titular Archbishop of Newport, Wales. In October 1979, Pope John Paul II, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, embraced Archbishop Sheen in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, telling him, “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus. You are a loyal son of the Church.” Archbishop Sheen died just two months later while praying in his private chapel.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s legacy endures in homes, churches, and communities all across our country. Countless Americans still watch recordings of his broadcasts and read his books. The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Museum in his native Illinois attracts thousands of visitors every year. And today, as thousands of Americans gather in St. Louis, Missouri, for his Beatification Mass, we pray that Archbishop Sheen’s heroic commitment to nourishing the soul of our country will inspire others to follow his example and lift our Nation upward and ever higher to God.
Thank you, President Trump!
Now there was a true Catholic.
If you want to enrich your life, go and listen to his talks from the 1940s and 1950s which are easily available on YouTube.
Here is a man who appreciated the dangers of Communism from the get-go.
This is a video of him on the old game show, "What's My Line? About 4 minutes long
ebby, today is the day you can say something nice about the Catholic Church and, in particular, Blessed Bishop Fulton Sheen.
Thank you, President Trump.
I thoroughly enjoyed Archbishop Sheens broadcast. He was a Godly man. If I can say it, as a nonCatholic,ebbie should do it with ease.
I remember that my grandparents and great Aunts and uncles discussing his show at Sunday dinner. Catholics Protestants and even the family Jew. He was well regarded and all of his shows are available on youtube at
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fulton+j.+sheen+show
CS Lewis also had a popular radio show that many tuned into listen.
Imagine living in a time that one could listen to these great and moral men talking on prime time programming. We have lost so much... tragic.
The question is: would this work to gen Z or gen Alpha?
His old fashioned oratorical style is something to see and hear, that’s for sure!
I was a kid when he had his TV show. My mother thought highly of him, so we always watched him. I can still remember him with his chalk board.
Archbp. Sheen spirit was always on fire for preaching God’s Word and attacking evil in the world.
“His old fashioned oratorical style is something to see and hear, that’s for sure!”
I was surprised when I found out he was born in the USA because he always seemed to have a native Irish accent to his voice
Thank you for the full What’s My Line appearance. I saw a few seconds elsewhere. Funny.
They say lots of males have names in tribute to him including young ones today.
Martin Sheen and Charlie Sheen have the names because Martin liked him. Born Ramón Gerard Antonio Estévez he arrived in New York and worked on an acting career. “He faced anti-Hispanic prejudice in the industry. A Spanish last name like “Estévez” could have been a barrier to getting work, especially in a city with strong prejudice against Puerto Rican and other Hispanic communities.”
He chose Sheen because he like the Bishop.
On EWTN two callers today said as little girls they saw him on TV and were frightened. One said he was like Dracula including with the cape. Other said his eyes bore down into her on TV and she was afraid. Funny because he loved kids and they loved him.
So you're saying Joy Reid and Rachel Maddow don't make up for it today? (kidding)
RE: on communism....
He was outspoken on defending the American Way of Life, Freedom and Liberty, and opposing Communism.
Book still available:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=fulton+sheen+book+on+communism&FORM=HDRSC3
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