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Top 10 Facts about Fulton J. Sheen

Fulton was born on  May 8, 1895, he was an American bishop of the Catholic Church. He was known for his preaching and his work on television and radio. Fulton quickly became a renowned theologian and was even given the  Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923. Before he was appointed as the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, he taught at the Catholic University of America. He held the position of bishop until 1966 when he was made the Bishop of Rochester. 

In 1969, he retired but was later archbishop of the titular See of Newport Wales. Later in 2009, Fulton’s shows were re-broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. His contribution to televised preaching made him one of the first televangelists. For his work, Fulton won an Emmy Award Twice for Most Outstanding Television Personality. Fulton was even featured on the cover of Time magazine.

1. His Childhood In Christianity

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When Fulton was young, he was baptized as Peter John Sheen. His first role in the church was as an altar boy at St.Mary’s Cathedral. Sheen attended Spalding Institute in Peoria, Illinois where he earned valedictorian honors. After high school, he attended the St. Viator College in Bourbonnais, Illinois but he later joined the Saint Paul Seminary in Minnesota before his ordination on September 20, 1919.

Fulton celebrated his first Christmas Mass at St. Mark Parish in Peoria, Illinois, and has been noted as the only altar in the area where he held Mass. 

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2. The Pair of Doctoral Degrees He Attained

Fulton earned a Doctor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium in 1923. His thesis was titled The Spirit of Contemporary Philosophy and the Finite God. During his time in Belgium, Fulton won the Cardinal Mercier Prize. He was noted as the first American, in the area, to win the award. In 1924, Fulton earned a Sacred Theology Doctorate at the Pontificium Collegium Internationale Angelicum in Rome.

3. Fulton’s Life As A Priest

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In 1926, Bishop Edmund Dunne of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria requested Fulton to take over St. Patrick’s Parish. In an event in London, Fulton was an assistant to the Pastor at St. Patrick’s Church while he taught theology at St. Edmund’s College. In 1928, Bishop Edmund sent Fulton to the Catholic University of America where he was able to teach philosophy until 1950.

Fulton gave a speech at the National Catholic Educational Association in 1929. In his speech, he hoped that through the teachers, Catholics would be influential in the United States. He believed that Catholics would help others attract to the faith and add it to their lives.

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4. Fulton As an Auxiliary Bishop

In 1951, he was consecrated as a bishop and served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1951 to 1966. The principal consecrator was the Cardinal Bishop of Sabina e Poggio Mirteto. Fulton was made the Bishop of Rochester he served from October 21, 1966, to October 6, 1969. When he resigned, Fulton was made the archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales.

5. His Ecumenical Efforts in The 1950s

Fulton made efforts to seek common ground between Christian and non-Roman churches. He was interested in promoting Catholicism to non-Catholics in hopes that it would lead to understanding between the different Christian denominations. In 1951, he created the television show Life is Worth Living which aired till 1957. The show drew viewers from a variety of religious backgrounds.

In 1957, Fulton participated in a dialogue between Catholic and Protestant leaders. However, this wasn’t the only interfaith initiative he was involved in. Fulton also worked to improve relations between Catholics and Jews and urged Catholics to better understand and respect Jewish beliefs.

6. Using Media As A Way To Spread The Word

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In 1930, Fulton began a weekly NBC Sunday-night radio broadcast which was called The Catholic Hour. The broadcast reached millions of listeners across the United States. He later became a pioneer of television evangelism through his show Life is Worth Living which aired weekly from 1951 to 1957. The show involved sermons on various topics related to morality and faith. The show earned a lot of viewership and an Emmy award for Most Outstanding Television Personality. 

Fulton has written over 70 books and dozens of articles in various publications. His most famous book is The Life of Christ which has been translated into 50 languages and sold over 2 million copies around the world.

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7. His International Cassette Tape Ministry

In the 1960s, Fulton established the International cassette tape ministry which produced and distributed cassette tapes of Fulton’s talks and sermons. The tapes were distributed to Catholic churches and organizations around the world. The cassettes were a convenient way for people to listen to his teachings. 

The ministry talked about a wide range of topics from spirituality and morality to social issues. The ministry was able to continue for many years before it was replaced by newer technology like digital recordings.

8. His Influence on Notable Figures

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Fulton was credited for helping convert numerous prominent people to the Catholic faith including politician Clare Boothe Luce, and communist writer Louis. F Budenz, theatrical designer Jo Meilziner, actress Virginia Mayo, violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler, and automaker Henry Ford II. It has been noted that each conversion took an average of 25 hours of lessons.

9. Fulton’s Work During His Later Years

While he served as a Bishop of Rochester, he created the Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation. In 1967, Fulton decided to give the St. Bridget’s Parish building to the federal Housing and Urban Development program. He wanted the building to be used for black Americans. In 1969, Sheen resigned from his position and was appointed archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales by Pope Paul VI. While he served as an archbishop, Fulton wrote 73 books and numerous columns as well as articles.

10. The Leagcy of Fulton Sheen

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In 1977, He underwent a series of surgeries that left him too weak to preach so he decided to work on his autobiography. Sheen died on December 9, 1979, in his private chapel while he was praying. His papers, television programs, and other materials were left in the care of St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. Later, Joseph Campanella introduced the reruns of all Fulton’s programs that aired on EWTN. The reruns also aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. 

The Fulton J. Sheen Museum, which is operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria, was opened. The museum has all of Fulton’s personal items in five collections. The museum is located near the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, which was where Fulton served as an altar boy and had his first communion, in Peoria, Illinois.

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All in All, Fulton is remembered as the Catholic bishop who advocated for ecumenical unity. He utilized various forms of media to minister to his followers and spread the teachings of the Catholic Church. Fulton is recognized as one of the most dynamic preachers of the 20th century who used his effective communication skills to preach to numerous people every day.