The Badger Catholic: Archbishop Fulton Sheen

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After a three year legal battle, Abp. Fulton Sheen's body quietly transferred to Peoria, cause resumes

UPDATE, 6/27/2019: Archbishop Sheen arrived in Peoria Thursday, where he was taken to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. Greeted by Bp. Daniel Jenky, flanked by clergy, religious and lay faithful, the bishop sprinkled holy water on Sheen's casket before he was brought to his permanent resting place: the side altar dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

The Peoria diocese has confirmed that Sheen's cause for canonization has resumed, and has noted the "divine coincidence" that this historic moment took place on the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

"Bishop Jenky has notified the Vatican indicating that civil litigation has ended and that Sheen's remains have been transferred," according to the press release by the diocese of Peoria. "The Vatican has confirmed that the Cause for Beatification has now resumed."

Visitation of Sheen's tomb is available Friday from 2–4 p.m., Saturday from 10–2 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

continue at Church Militant

HT BZ

* Sorry for my absentee posting. Four kids on for different baseball/softball teams, and that's the easy part of the summer schedule.

Peoria Diocese wins latest court skirmish over remains of Fulton Sheen

PEORIA — The Catholic Diocese of Peoria on Tuesday won what it hopes was the final court battle to bring the remains of Archbishop Fulton Sheen to Peoria.

In a 5-0 vote, a New York appellate court rejected the latest appeal by the Archdiocese of New York to keep his remains in a crypt below St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The decision is the latest in a lengthy tug-of-warbetween the New York Archdiocese and the Peoria Diocese over the final resting place for Sheen, who was born in El Paso and ordained in Peoria. The Catholic Diocese considers the move vital in its effort to canonize Sheen.

“We hope that this will be the end with New York,” said Patricia Gibson, attorney for the Peoria Diocese.

Five days before his death, in 1979, Sheen signed a will seeking burial in the Archdiocese’s graveyard, Calvary Cemetery. But the Archdiocese instead sought and won permission from Sheen’s closest living relative, niece Joan Sheen Cunningham, to inter him in a place of honor: St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

continue at Peoria JournalStar

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Chicago's Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica will host first TLM in 40 years Dec 30

The painting to the left has not been forgotten

Chicago's amazing Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica will host its first Traditional Latin Mass in over 40 years at 3:00 PM on Friday, December 30. The Mass will be part of the annual Christmas week bus tour of historic Chicago churches organized by Prayer Pilgrimages, featured in Extraordinary Faith Episode 4, along with another High Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Mary of the Angels Parish at 12:30 PM on Thursday, December 29. Everyone is invited to both Masses; you do not need to be part of the bus tour.

Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica is well-known for being the site of the film narrated by Archbishop Fulton Sheen, The Immemorial Tridentine Mass. Its massive High Altar and arcade of Side Altar alcoves are quite something to behold.

This blogger visited Our Lady of Sorrows a few years ago. Kudos and congrats Chi-town Catholics! Hope you can make it to both!

HT RS

Emergency stay granted, New York Archdiocese keeps Abp. Sheen's remains in NYC

PEORIA, Ill. — Hopes buoyed in the Diocese of Peoria by a Nov. 17 court ruling allowing Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s family to transfer the sainthood candidate’s remains from New York to Peoria were tempered by an emergency stay being granted to the Archdiocese of New York, which planned to appeal the ruling.

In a 10-page decision, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arlene Bluth had granted the request of Archbishop Sheen’s niece, Joan Sheen Cunningham, to have the remains of the famed orator and media pioneer removed from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and transferred to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria, where a crypt is being prepared for his re-interment.

However, five days later, lawyers representing the Archdiocese of New York and the trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral — who oppose the relocation of the remains — announced their intention to appeal Bluth’s ruling. They also sought and were granted the stay.

continue at The Compass

New York state court rules Sheen remains should be transferred to Peoria

PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) — The Supreme Court of the State of New York ruled Nov. 17 in favor of the family of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen regarding their request to allow the transfer of the sainthood candidate’s remains to Peoria, where he was raised and ordained a priest.

On Nov. 1, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arlene Bluth heard arguments in favor of the transfer from lawyers for Archbishop Sheen’s niece, Joan Sheen Cunningham, as well as those from the Archdiocese of New York, which sought to keep the remains of the famed orator and media pioneer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, where he was entombed following his death on Dec. 9, 1979.

The Diocese of Peoria has been a promoter of Archbishop Sheen’s canonization cause for more than 14 years. The ruling is seen as a key factor in allowing his cause to move forward. There was no immediate response from the New York Archdiocese.

“The petitioner (Joan Sheen Cunningham) is granted the right to remove the remains of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York … to St. Mary’s Cathedral (in Peoria),” ruled Bluth at the close of a 10-page decision.

continue at CatholicPhilly

Wow. Hopefully and end to a strange episode in the cause for Abp. Sheen.

CatholicGent: Abp. Fulton Sheen: Mary and the Muslims

A timely and fascinating article.

Moslemism is the only great post-Christian religion of the world. Because it had its origin in the seventh century under Mohammed, it was possible to unite, within it, some elements of Christianity and of Judaism, along with particular customs of Arabia. Moslemism takes the doctrine of the unity of God, His majesty and His creative power, and uses it, in part, as a basis for the reproduction of Christ, the Son of God. Misunderstanding the notion of the Trinity, Mohammed made Christ a prophet announcing Him just as to Christians, Isaiah and John the Baptist are prophets announcing Christ.

The Christian European West barely escaped destruction at the hands of the Moslems. At one point they were stopped near Tours and at another point, later on in time, outside the gates of Vienna. The Church throughout northern Africa was practically destroyed by Moslem power, and at the present hour, the Moslems are beginning to rise again.

If Moslemism is a heresy, as Hiliaire Belloc believes it to be, it is the only heresy that has never declined. Others have had a moment of vigor, then gone into doctrinal decay at the death of the leader, and finally evaporated in a vague social movement. Moslemism, on the contrary, has only had its first phase. There was never a time in which it declined, either in numbers, or in the devotion of its followers.

continue at The Catholic Gentleman

How exactly this takes place, I would love to find out.

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Wisconsin author publishes final chapter of Archbishop Sheen book for free online

Driven and sustained by his daily holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen lived an intense life of holiness, zeal to save souls and Christian love that helped make him the most influential Catholic in 20th-century America, biographer Thomas C. Reeves says.

Reeves has released a previously unpublished conclusion to his 2002 Sheen biography, America's Bishop: The Life and Times of Fulton J. Sheen (Encounter Books). The concluding chapter, titled "Living Intensely," covers Venerable Sheen's spirituality, his inspiration and how others viewed his life. While Reeves does not directly promote Sheen as a candidate to be raised to the altars, his book's concluding chapter is a very tidy summation of Sheen's merits for sainthood. Reeves is making the chapter available for free on the internet, and has donated it for inclusion in his papers at Marquette University.

"To an extraordinary degree, his mind was on God," Reeves wrote of Sheen (1895-1979), the prolific author and Catholic evangelist best remembered for his 1950s television series, "Life is Worth Living." "This supernatural approach to life activated and sustained his enormous energy. He said late in life, 'the secret of my power is that I have never in fifty-five years missed spending an hour in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. That’s where the power comes from. That’s where sermons are born. That’s where every good thought is conceived.' "

Sheen's commitment to keeping a holy hour began on the day of his ordination on September 20, 1919 and lasted until the day of his death on December 9, 1979. He was clearly devoted to the practice, but he viewed it not as a devotion but "a sharing in the work of redemption." For many decades, he urged brother priests, religious and all the faithful to make a daily holy hour.

continue at Catholic World Report

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen canonization effort cause for pause

From a reader: Good Morning Matt! Below is a link to, what i think, is a great article on Bishop Sheen from the Peoria prospective. Interestingly enough, Bishop Callahan is kind of in the middle of this since he was a pastor in Peoria and then "worked" for Dolan in Milwaukee.

It’s ugly to play tug-of-war with a dead man.

It’s even worse for Roman Catholics, especially those in central Illinois. The man in the middle is Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, the one-time Peoria priest who later earned celebrity and adoration as TV’s original televangelist. Thirty-five years after dying, he still commands a wide audience — though with Sheen’s sterling legacy dragged into the center of a nasty dust-up between the Peoria diocese and the Archdiocese of New York.

An earnest campaign to canonize the El Paso native has sputtered once again, hampered by the huffing and puffing of bishop vs. archbishop. It’s a strange saga, like a soap opera with pointy hats.

Though neither the Peoria diocese nor New York archdiocese returned my requests for comment, they’ve been roundly pounding each other with press releases. Depending on how you read them, the canonization effort is either dead or resting — or possibly primed for a hijacking by New York.

A dozen years ago, Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky launched the long, hard push for sainthood. The designation is no mere title among the faithful: Catholics can petition saints for intercession and prayer. Plus, if the effort were successful, Sheen would be the first American-born bishop to reach sainthood, not a bad nod to his old stomping (and praying) grounds of Peoria.

A key custom of the canonization: the remains of a saint get buried at the site of his diocese. For Sheen, that gets a little tricky: he started his priesthood in Peoria, though he spent the bulk of his career in New York — where his body is buried (with other deceased bishops) under St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Remains are key to Catholics as relics, for their spiritual significance. Relics often are displayed as a memorial to allow followers to venerate a saint, such as with a kiss.

With the Sheen effort, sainthood would require his remains to be buried in Peoria — likely in a shrine at St. Mary’s Cathedral, where he was ordained. According to the Peoria diocese, Bishop Jenky met in 2002 and 2004 with Cardinal Edward Egan, then the leader of the Archdiocese of New York. Egan, according to Jenky, pledged that the archdiocese had no interest in pursuing Sheen’s sainthood but would work to move his remains to Peoria “at the appropriate time.”

Cause for Fulton Sheen suspended "for the foreseeable future" NY Arch. refuses to cooperate

NEWS RELEASE The Diocese of Peoria, Illinois Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Sheen Cause Suspended, Call for Prayer

It is with immense sadness that the Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, Bishop of Peoria and President of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, announced today that the Cause for Sheen’s beatification and canonization has for the foreseeable future been suspended. The process to verify a possible miracle attributed to Sheen had been going extremely well, and only awaited a vote of the Cardinals and the approval of the Holy Father. There was every indication that a possible date for beatification in Peoria would have been scheduled for as early as the coming year. The Holy See expected that the remains of Venerable Sheen would be moved to Peoria where official inspection would be made and first class relics be taken. Subsequently, the Archdiocese of New York denied Bishop Jenky’s request to move the body to Peoria. After further discussion with Rome, it was decided that the Sheen Cause would now have to be relegated to the Congregation’s historic archive.

Countless supporters especially from the local church in Central Illinois have given their time, treasure and talent for this good work with the clear understanding that the body of Venerable Sheen would return to the Diocese. Bishop Jenky was personally assured on several occasions by the Archdiocese of New York that the transfer of the body would take place at the appropriate time. New York’s change of mind took place as the work on behalf of the Cause had reached a significant stage.

Bishop Jenky is what is technically called the “actor” of the Sheen Cause. The Diocese of Peoria and the Sheen Foundation have prayed and labored for this good work for the last twelve years. The Bishop is heartbroken not only for his flock in Peoria but also for the many supporters of the Sheen Cause from throughout the world who have so generously supported Peoria’s efforts. It should be noted, however, that saints are always made by God not by man. Efforts for many causes have sometimes taken decades or even centuries. Bishop Jenky urges that those who support the Sheen Cause continue their prayers that God’s will be made manifest.

No further comment will be released at this time.

Fulton Sheen Cause

also Deacon's Bench: Shock: effort to canonize Fulton Sheen suspended indefinitely

UPDATE:

The Archdiocese of New York is on a roll this week. First Cardinal Dolan won't give Fulton Sheen back to Peoria and now His Eminence gives the gays front-row seats in the St. Patrick Day Parade.

I thought Monsignor Pope had a good take on it.

Cause for Venerable Sheen’s Beatification moves to next step

Peoria, IL — The Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, Bishop of Peoria and President of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation, received word today that the seven-member theological commission who advise the Congregation of the Causes of Saints at the Vatican unanimously agreed that a reported miracle should be attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton Sheen. The case involved a stillborn baby born in September 2010. For over an hour the child demonstrated no signs of life as medical professionals attempted every possible life saving procedure, while the child’s parents and loved ones began immediately to seek the intercession of Fulton Sheen. After 61 minutes the baby was restored to full life and over three years later demonstrates a full recovery. Today’s decision by the theologians comes after the March 2014 vote by the team of Vatican medical experts who affirmed that they could find no natural explanation for the child’s healing. With the recommendations of the medical experts and now the theologians, the case will next be reviewed by the cardinals and bishops who advise the Pope on these matters. Finally, the miracle would be presented to Pope Francis who would then officially affirm that God performed a miracle through the intercession of Fulton Sheen. There is no timeline as to when these next steps might move forward. Should Pope Francis validate this proposed miracle, Sheen could then be declared “Blessed” in a ceremony that could be celebrated in Peoria, Sheen’s hometown. Upon the Holy Father signing the decree for the beatification, an additional miracle would lead to the Canonization of Archbishop Sheen, in which he would be declared a “Saint.” For more information about Fulton Sheen and the Cause for his canonization, visit: ArchbishopSheenCause.org.

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For more information on the reported miracle baby James Fulton click here: MIRACLE

Cause of Archbishop Sheen

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This page is definitely worth a like on Facebook.

Pope Benedict and Archbishop Fulton Sheen

[Bp. Jenky] The Holy father told me something I hadn't known. He told me that he worked on the commission for mission at the Second Vatican Council with Fulton Sheen.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen miracle approved by Cause of Saints

Peoria, IL — The Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, Bishop of Peoria and President of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation, received word early Thursday morning that the 7-member board of medical experts who advise the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints at the Vatican unanimously approved a reported miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

The case involved a still born baby born in September 2010. For over an hour the child demonstrated no signs of life as medical professionals attempted every possible life saving procedure, while the child’s parents and loved ones began immediately to seek the intercession of Fulton Sheen. After 61 minutes the baby was restored to full life and made a full recovery. The child, now three years old, continues in good health.

Today’s decision affirms that the team of Vatican medical experts can find no natural explanation for the child’s healing. The case will next be reviewed by a board of theologians. With their approval the case could move on to the cardinals and bishops who advise the Pope on these matters. Finally, the miracle would be presented to Pope Francis who would then officially affirm that God performed a miracle through the intercession of Fulton Sheen. There is no timeline as to when these next steps might move forward.

“Today is a significant step in the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of our beloved Fulton Sheen, a priest of Peoria and a Son of the Heartland who went on to change the world. There are many more steps ahead and more prayers are needed. But today is a good reason to rejoice,” commented Bishop Jenky.

continue at Arch. Sheen Cause

Cdl. Burke "has a devotion to Archbishop Fulton Sheen"

Bishop Daniel Jenky, Leader of the Sheen Cause and Msgr. Stanley Deptula, Executive Director gave His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, a tour of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Museum here in Peoria, Illinois. Cardinal Burke has a devotion to Archbishop Fulton Sheen and was happy to see all that the Catholic Diocese of Peoria is doing for the Cause for Sheen's Canonization and said he was impressed by the museum.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Chasing mirages

“Perhaps it was marriage you thought which would bring you perfect happiness. Even though it did bring a measure of happiness, you admit that you now take your companion’s love for granted. One is never thirsty at the border of the well. Maybe it was a desire to be well-known that you craved. You did become well-known, only to find that reputation is like a ball; as soon as it starts rolling, men begin to kick it around. How have you reacted to your disappointments? Either you became cynical or else you became religious. If you became cynical, you blamed things rather than yourself. If you were married, you said: If I had another husband, or another wife, I would be happy. Or you said: If I had another job, or If I visited another nightclub, or If I were in another city, I would be happy. In every instance, you made happiness extrinsic to yourself. No wonder you are never happy. You are chasing mirages until death overtakes you.”

-Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Facebook Fulton Sheen

Bonus from Good Jesuit Bad Jesuit:

Fr. John Hardon, S.J. On Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

During the Tre Ore sermon which he preached on Good Friday some years ago, Fulton J. Sheen asked his audience:

"If Jesus Christ thirsted for souls, must not a Christian also thirst? If He came to cast fire on the earth, must not a Christian be enkindled? Has he not called us to be His apostles and His ambassadors, in order that His Incarnation might be prolonged through the continued dispensation of the divine through the human?"

He answered his own question by declaring that, "A Catholic who does not strive to spread his Faith is a parasite on the life of the Church."

Link (here) to the full essay by Fr. John Hardon, S.J. entitled Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen - Author, Orator and Missionary.

"The Immemorial Tridentine Mass" by Archbishop Fulton Sheen

From a commenter:

Even more important than the brief scene in the movie "The Untouchables", Our Lady of Sorrows was home to the well known film "the Immemorial Tridentine Mass" filmed on Easter Sunday 1941 and narrated by then Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen.

The Badger Catholic

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