To a Catholic boy like Tim Dolan, growing up in the heartland when Protestant neighbors still made casual jokes about the “papists” next door, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen rode into town in the 1950s on the new main street of the United States, the television set, like a true-blue American hero.
“He showed the broad American public that the truths of our faith were consonant with the highest values of the society: patriotism, God, family and the struggle against Communism,” said that boy, now known as Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York.
Archbishop Dolan led a memorial Mass on Wednesday evening at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Bishop Sheen. An auxiliary bishop of the New York Archdiocese from 1951 to 1965, the man whom the Rev. Billy Graham called “the greatest communicator of the 20th century” is buried in a crypt under the cathedral altar, which was open for public viewing before the Mass.
Bishop Sheen truly was a servant of Christ and His Church, and I remember him very well as the man whose life exerted much influence on my faith in God. Even though I’m not a Catholic in the same sense as he was, I have always valued his influence. He should be beatified and eventually canonized, in my opinion.
I am reminded of statement I read years ago in Christianity Today (I think). “We Catholics have done a decent job in conveying our beliefs, with some better than others. For example, many people today believe in the Immaculate Conception. Sadly though, they think it pertains to themselves” (sorry if I did get it quite verbatim)
Grady
Over at The Anchoress http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/theanchoress/
there is a wonderful video clip of Bishop Sheen’s appearance on What’s My Line many years ago. Scroll down to the entries for Dec. 9 and enjoy!
Sheen’s “Life of Christ” is one of my favorite works about Jesus. I have a well-worn copy on my bookshelves.
Being born many years after the 1950’s and never having been Roman Catholic, I had never really heard of Bishop Sheen until I ran into some reruns of his sermons that EWTN or some channel was running when I was in college. That man had insane preaching skills.
There’s some good stuff on Youtube for those interested.
I have a confession to make. As a life-long Catholic I have tried to watch Bishop Sheen, but I found watching him on TV to be both creepy and off-putting. I am sure that he was a good and holy man, but there it is. So now I’m working on my firm purpose of amendment, but it feels good to finally get that off my chest…
I always preferred to listen to him with my eyes closed, because his words were inspiring orthodoxy for modern American people, but he was also apt to pitch his voice theatrically and finger his crucifix and vestments in a way that reminded me of Bela Lugosi’s Dracula.
Regardless of his manner of speaking and fingering his crucifix……something which I do when praying my Anglican Rosary, by the way……he made a great impression on me. And he was truly a wonderful preacher.
Life of Christ is just phenomenal, even for those of us who are Protestants. Read it to greatly deepen your love for your lord.
Not RC – in my 20s in the 50s/60s -not attending church of anykind….and the family wouldn’t miss Bishop Sheen for any amount of money…..like my belief in the ministry of Billy Graham – if somebody told me the Bishop were a phony, they would have to prove it beyond a doubt….and I still wouldn’t believe them…..I understand younger people not being able to appreciate his show, but he was for the times and he preached the Gospel truthfully and yes, for the times…..he didn’t water it down…he just told it like it was…….a great man, a great leader, and a great credit to the Gospel….
I have his book “Peace of Soul”(1949). I believe it is very insightful and read it when I was living in Wisconsin and attending Marquette University. About two years later the East Troy WI Library where I resided had it for sale for 25 cents. I bought it and know that God wanted me to have it. I believe Bishop Sheen is one of the reasons I am Anglo Catholic today.
I remember the good bishop. As a prot family we, as a rule, always watched his show. He also did a newspaper column. He is missed.
A testament to Bishop Sheen’s ability as a teacher and speaker is that I was glued to the set during his show when I was 5 and 6 years old. I had no idea what he was talking about, but it fascinated me nonetheless. Hard to explain. Maybe it was the outfit.
I share the confession made above. I suspect I would much prefer to read his transcripts. But watching him with his theatrics and intensity just makes me want to look away or quickly turn the channel. Still, I am glad that others get so much from him.