Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be the patron saint…of what?

During a recent speech to the General Assembly of Pontifical Mission Societies, Pope Leo XIV gave what may be the clearest indication yet of what Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s legacy in the Catholic Church will be: patron saint of missionaries.

The Holy Father praised Sheen’s faith and broadcasts, which “touched millions with the hope of the Gospel,” including Pope Leo himself. He emphasized Sheen’s role in bringing spiritual and material aid to the Church in the poorest parts of the world.

And by calling Sheen an example for the “National and Diocesan Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies throughout the world,” Pope Leo hinted that Sheen will be the patron saint of missions and mission work.

As someone who spent years closely investigating Sheen’s life, I am confident that nothing could be more fitting. Sheen’s entire legacy—from his intense prayer life and intellectual rigor to his Emmy-winning evangelization and global charitable efforts—was animated by a single mission: bringing souls to Christ.

This mission played a large role in Sheen’s prolific authorship and writing, including 66 books that remain popular today. Sheen was renowned for his deep theological insight. He knew our Lord Jesus in a personal way and skillfully related those insights to ordinary readers in an understandable way. Some of his books, especially The Life of Christ and Treasure in Clay, sell in record numbers even today.

Sheen similarly was a trailblazer in modern radio and television in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

His Emmy-winning show, Life Is Worth Living, drew record-setting audiences who came back to hear his message of hope. He spoke effectively and had an integrity that gave weight to his words.

Not only that, but his self-deprecating humor showed a humility that media personalities today would do well to learn from. Many media personalities today should be fascinated to see how the Archbishop captivated millions of Americans weekly, with just a simple chalkboard and a piece of chalk.

Sheen’s heroic commitment to prayer and personal relationship with Our Lord similarly called those who knew him higher. On the day of his ordination, Sheen promised to make a continuous daily Eucharistic Holy Hour. He kept this promise until the day he died–fittingly, before the Blessed Sacrament. Over these 22,000 Holy Hours, Sheen showed the depth of his commitment to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He urged his peers to also commit to this daily adoration of Our Lord, reminding us all that we always have time. Many have been inspired to follow his example.

Sheen also drew Catholics closer to the Blessed Mother, whom he entrusted his vocation to and lovingly referred to as “Lovely Lady dressed in blue.”

Not only that, but Sheen powerfully showed the necessity of a strong education for both pursuing God’s truth and sharing it with others. Sheen was devoted to learning, as he pursued many degrees, including the advanced Doctor of Philosophy from the Catholic University in Louvain, Belgium.

He was also a teacher who spent decades teaching theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He distinguished himself by the seriousness of his prepared lectures and the way in which he wanted to challenge his students to grow in knowledge. Catholic scholars today would also be well served by following the example of Sheen.

Finally, Sheen’s work in the Pontifical Mission’s society–despite his global media success and high-profile connections–showed his love for all of God’s children, and his total commitment to God rather than personal acclaim.

Sheen noted that pastors get to shepherd a parish and bishops shepherd a diocese. Yet as the Director of the Propagation of Faith, Sheen had the privilege of serving and evangelizing the whole world. He embraced this responsibility wholeheartedly and spent years raising material and spiritual support for missions throughout the world.

Sheen’s impressive education, writings, devotion to Our Lady, evangelization, and leadership in the missions reveal a man who spent his whole life focused on a single goal: using every talent God had bestowed on him at the service of evangelization. Everything Sheen undertook became an opportunity to bring souls to Christ.

Sheen’s life and legacy thus make Pope Leo’s recent praise especially significant.

I join our Holy Father in praying that those who serve in the missions today will be inspired by the example of the soon-to-be Blessed Fulton Sheen, whose life remains a powerful witness to the Church’s missionary calling.

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