Beatification of Fulton Sheen Draws Thousands in St. Louis

On Thursday, a significant event took place in St. Louis, Missouri, where a beloved radio and television priest, Fulton Sheen, was beatified in a Mass that brought together tens of thousands of Catholic faithful.

Sheen, a Roman Catholic priest, became extremely well-known in the 1950s and 60s through his radio and television broadcasts, effectively communicating Catholic teachings to a wide audience.

‘Archbishop Sheen was a beacon of faith, hope, and love who shone through radio and television for decades.’

Recognized as the first television evangelist, Sheen played a role in the election of John F. Kennedy, who was the first Catholic president of the United States.

Organizers from the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, as well as the local diocese, mentioned that approximately 48,000 tickets were issued for the event at the Dome at America’s Center. The beatification had seen delays due to the inability to find a venue large enough in Sheen’s home diocese of Peoria, Illinois.

Beatification is the final stage before sainthood, and with this, he is now known as Blessed Fulton Sheen.

Gaining fame first as a radio priest, Sheen’s television program “Life Is Worth Living” brought him greater acclaim as he discussed moral and religious issues while engaging viewers with his chalkboard notes. His influence extended even to future Pope Leo XIV, who referenced Sheen’s impact on his upbringing.

“Archbishop Sheen was a beacon of faith, hope, and love who shone through radio and television for decades,” Pope Leo remarked in a speech prior to the event. “I saw his efforts to evangelize as I was growing up.”

Throughout his career, Sheen appeared on the cover of Time magazine, conversed with popes, and traveled globally for Catholic missions.

He passed away in 1979 at the age of 84.

Typically, for someone to be considered for beatification and eventual sainthood, the Catholic Church looks for verified miracles attributed to the individual. In 2010, the family of an infant born without a pulse prayed to Sheen for a miracle, and the baby was miraculously revived.

“I remember sitting on my bedroom floor and insisting to myself over and over, ‘Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen,'” recalled Bonnie Engstrom, the baby’s mother.

The family attended the beatification Mass with their now-teenaged son, James Fulton Engstrom, whom they brought along to present relics of Sheen.

Delays for the beatification process included investigations by the Diocese of Rochester into any allegations linking Sheen to clerical sex abuse, but the church ultimately confirmed his innocence.

Pope Leo XIV gave his approval for Sheen’s beatification earlier this year.

Pope Leo also stated the following at an event leading up to the ceremony, “May this holy bishop’s example and intercession inspire many to find innovative ways to spread the gospel with joy.”

Sheen was recognized for his philosophical and theological critiques of communism and materialism during the Cold War era.

Among his accolades, Sheen won an Emmy for his television program, humorously thanking the four writers he claimed, were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.