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So the heart of Christ is now manifested to the world in a new way. But have we noticed that as time has gone on, we've had many revelations. But the latest revelations have been about the sacred heart and the immaculate heart.

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And that is Archbishop Fulton Sheen, theologian, evangelizer, Catholic communications pioneer, teacher, and preacher. Hello, I'm Gina Christian of OSV News. And you're listening to a special edition of our OSV Newscast. Our team is on the ground here in St. Louis, Missouri for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Throughout his life, Archbishop Sheen brought the timeless truths of the Catholic faith to address modern advances and challenges. And he did it all out of a profoundly personal relationship with Jesus, particularly in the Eucharist. He was faithful to his daily holy hour, and he even left this earth while in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The Beatification Mass will take place on September 24th. That's tomorrow, here in St. Louis. And ahead of the celebration, let's take a look at some of the highlights in Sheen's life and the journey that led to this special moment for the Catholic Church in the United States. The soon-to-be-beatified Archbishop was born Peter John Sheen in 1895 in El Paso, Illinois. And when Sheen was just a child, Bishop John Spaulding of Peoria predicted he'd study at the Catholic University of Louvan in Belgium, one of Europe's oldest universities, and that he would someday, as Bishop Spaulding said, be just as I am. Sheen was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in 1919. He first studied at the Catholic University of America, and then, as Bishop Spaulding had foretold, he went to Luvan to study philosophy. He came back to Catholic University and taught religion and philosophy for more than 20 years, and his lectures were sought out not only by students but visitors. Sheen's ability to engage with modern society on any number of issues and to bring the light of the gospel to them quickly gained attention. His easy, often humorous way of communicating drew people in, and he soon showed he was just as much at home before a radio mic and television camera as he was in the pulpit or the classroom. He rose to fame first through his radio show The Catholic Hour, and then the TV show Life is Worth Living. In fact, according to Catholic University, Sheen appeared in the first broadcast of a Catholic liturgical service on Easter Sunday in 1940. In his broadcasting career, which earned him an Emmy by the way, Sheen shared with millions his love for Christ and his devotion to the Blessed Mother, while warning of the dangers of communism and the emptiness of a worldview that exalted man while excluding God. Sheen took that message on the road, speaking across the country. And amid his broadcasts, his appearances, and the hundreds of letters a week he received, he still found time to write more than 70 books, not counting various reprints and collections of his works. In 1950, he was appointed the National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Today that's known as the Pontifical Mission Society's USA. During his 16 years there, he reached millions more, and as the societies note, he modernized missionary outreach. He didn't just evangelize from behind a desk or a microphone either. He personally led a number of people, including several celebrities and public figures, to Christ. In 1966, he was named Bishop of Rochester, New York, and he retired from that position in 1969, after which Pope Paul VI gave him the title Archbishop. Archbishop Sheen continued to preach and to give retreats, and he died in 1979 at the age of 84, while in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in his private chapel. Archbishop Sheen's cause for canonization was opened by the Diocese of Peoria in 2002, and in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI recognized the Archbishop's heroic virtue, declaring him venerable. In 2014, a medical advisory board to the Vatican unanimously approved a miracle attributed to Archbishop Sheen's intercession, the complete revival of a stillborn baby delivered in 2010. James Fulton Engstrom is now a healthy 16-year-old, and his mother, Author Bonnie Engstrom, is here with us in St. Louis for the beatification. Archbishop Sheen's canonization cause was temporarily sidelined at a few points. In 2014, the same year the miracle was approved, the Diocese of Peoria and the Archdiocese of New York were locked in a dispute over the Archbishop's remains, which had been interred in New York. The dispute was resolved in court, and in 2019, the Archbishop's remains were transferred to Peoria, where they're entombed in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. That same year, Pope Francis approved the miracle for the Archbishop's beatification. But later in 2019, the beatification was postponed by the Vatican, after several U.S. bishops called for additional investigation into Archbishop Sheen's time as Bishop of Rochester. There were no accusations against him personally, but some bishops wanted to clarify how he'd handled allegations of clerical misconduct. In February of 2026, Bishop Louis Tilka of Peoria announced the Vatican had approved continuing with the beatification of Archbishop Sheen. And if you're wondering why that beatification is taking place in St. Louis rather than Peoria, it's because, as organizers have told OSV News, they needed a large venue like the Dome of St. Louis to welcome the thousands who want to share in the joy of this celebration. And that's a quick look at the life of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. We'll be beatified tomorrow, September 24th, in St. Louis, with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presiding. You can follow our ongoing coverage of the Beatification at osvnews.com and on our social media accounts. I'm Gina Christian. Thanks so much for listening and God bless.

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