Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Posted on 12/13/2011 6:02:55 AM PST by NYer
.- A Dec. 11 Mass in Peoria, Ill. marked the official conclusion of an investigation tribunal into an alleged miracle that many attribute to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
Since Sept. 7, the tribunal has looked into the alleged miraculous healing of James Fulton Engstrom – a one-year-old born without a pulse last year – whose parents credit his survival to the late archbishop.
The Mass, open to members of the public, was held at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, where Archbishop Sheen was as an alter server when he as a boy.
Official tribunal documents were sealed at the Mass by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria and Monsignor Stanley Deptula. Msgr. Deptula is the executive director of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation, which is the official promoter of the archbishop’s cause for sainthood.
The documents will now be shipped to the Vatican for consideration.
If the alleged miracle is approved by the Pope, U.S. Catholics could witness the first ever beatification on American soil in the Diocese of Peoria, said the foundation.
On Sept. 16, 2010, Bonnie Engstrom and her husband Travis prayed fervently to Archbishop Sheen after she delivered a stillborn son.
The baby, whom they named James Fulton after the archbishop, had no pulse for 61 minutes after he was born.
As doctors prepared to declare the time of death, however, his heart started beating. Although the physicians predicted serious medical problems, James Fulton is now a happy, healthy one-year-old.
In addition to serving as an auxiliary bishop of New York and bishop of Rochester, Archbishop Sheen was best known for his weekly radio broadcast, “The Catholic Hour,” and his later weekly television program, “Life is Worth Living.”
The archbishop died in 1971 and his cause for sainthood was opened in 2002.
A second approved miracle will be necessary before Archbishop Sheen – currently called a Servant of God – will be declared a saint.
Heavenly Father, source of all holiness, You raise up within the Church in every age men and women who serve with heroic love and dedication. You have blessed Your Church through the life and ministry of Your faithful servant, Archbishop Fulton J Sheen. He has written and spoken well of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and was a true instrument of the Holy Spirit in touching the hearts of countless people.
If it be according to Your Will, for the honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity and for the salvation of souls, we ask You to move the Church to proclaim him a saint. We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
I remember him on the TV. He seemed kind of weird to me.
Uncle Fultie is gonna become a saint! Good news for this New Yorker!
I was a young child when he was on TV but I was drawn to his mesmerizing voice.
If he is made a Saint he would be the first Saint that we can actually witness in the form of his broadcasts.
A Saint we could actually see and hear on film.
I remember his Broadcasts and I thought he was amazing then.
Good news for the Catholic Church.
My Dad recently told me that he had the opportunity to be an altar server for Msgr Sheen, and my Mother began her conversion to the Catholic faith through Msgr Sheen.
He has touched many people and brought the Faith to many.
I love this man & have been praying for his cause.
I do think theres an error in the article though. Didn’t he pass away in 1979??
The Congregation for Saints has been considering a miracle attributed to Venerable Father McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, for some time. If that miracle is verified, Fr. McGivney would (one assumes) be beatified first, somewhere in Connecticut.
Yes. I just checked CNA and the article has been corrected to reflect the proper date. Good catch!
I still remember Archbishop Sheen's tv programs ... my grandmother would insist we watch them as a family. How about you?
I was 2 when he died :-( so I never watched his show except for the recent replays on EWTN.
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