The Church has recently celebrated the beatification of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, one of the great Catholic preachers and evangelists of the twentieth century.
Archbishop Sheen was particularly gifted at explaining the Catholic faith in a way that ordinary people could understand. Through his preaching, writing and pioneering use of radio and television, he brought the message of Christ into millions of homes.
What made Sheen so effective was that he never lost sight of the heart of the Gospel: Jesus Christ. He constantly reminded people that holiness is not simply about knowing about God, but about allowing God to change our lives.
One of his memorable sayings was:
“The only way to overcome the world is to love Christ more than the world.”
He also reminded us that conversion begins with ourselves:
“There is no one in the world who cannot be converted if we begin with ourselves.”
These words have a particular relevance for us today. It is easy to see what is wrong with the world, with society, or even with other people. Fulton Sheen reminds us that the first person who needs conversion is me.
His life was centred on prayer, the Holy Eucharist, Our Lady and the Sacrament of Confession. His preaching was sometimes challenging because he wanted people not merely to admire Christianity, but to live it.
Blessed Fulton Sheen’s message remains remarkably relevant: know Christ, love Christ, return to Christ and bring Christ to others.
May Blessed Fulton Sheen pray for us, that we too may become faithful witnesses to the Gospel in our own homes, workplaces and parish community.