By S.L. Hansen
for the Register
When Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) was beatified Sept. 24, many Catholics reflected on their personal interactions with him during his life on earth, including people in Nebraska. The archbishop had multiple interactions with priests and laity in the Diocese of Lincoln.
The late Bishop Glennon Flavin
Perhaps the most significant is his connection with Bishop Glennon P. Flavin, the seventh Bishop of Lincoln. The pair became friends when then-Father Flavin invited the renowned Blessed Sheen to speak in St. Louis. When Bishop Flavin was appointed auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1957, Sheen gave the homily.
“If there was any way of describing the apostolic labors of Bishop Flavin,” Blessed Archbishop Sheen said of his friend, “it would be to say, as it was said of the Lord, ‘He went about doing good.’”
Archbishop Fulton Sheen visited Lincoln for the installation of Bishop Flavin in 1967, and again in October 1972 for the “Marian Day for Peace” rally to to pray for an end to the Vietnam War and global strife. The Register reported that nearly 7,000 attended his talk in the Pershing Center in downtown Lincoln.
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File photos/Courtesy photos
Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz
Bishop Emeritus Fabian W. Bruskewitz remembers Blessed Sheen’s Sunday evening radio program, “The Catholic Hour,” as a family event when he was a youngster. Shortly after Bruskewitz entered seminary, Blessed Sheen had a television program called “Life is Worth Living.” Every Tuesday, the seminarians would gather around the television to watch.
“He was an eloquent speaker, and he was just excellent on television,” Bishop Bruskewitz reminisced. “He inspired us.”
During his tenure at the Holy See from 1969-1979, Bishop Bruskewitz was in close proximity to Blessed Archbishop Sheen on several occasions, shopping at the same bookstore or sitting at the same dinner table at Villa Stritch, the house for American priests working at the Vatican.
On one memorable occasion, Cardinal Franz König, Archbishop of Vienna, was also a guest for dinner at Villa Stritch. Cardinal König was then assigned to diplomatic relations with Eastern European countries, and he spoke at length about his hope for those oppressed by communism.
“I think God is preparing Eastern Europe,” Bishop Bruskewitz recalled Cardinal König saying. “The soil is being redone and rejuvenated, so that eventually again the Catholic faith.”
Blessed Sheen, who was sitting to the right of then-Father Bruskewitz, responded enthusiastically, “Yes, I think what’s happening is that communism is the manure that is preparing that soil!”
State Auditor Mike Foley
Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley, a member of St. Peter Parish in Lincoln, grew up in the Diocese of Rochester, NY. He first encountered Blessed Sheen as a young child, when the family traveled to pick up his dad from a retreat. There, they were introduced to then-Father Sheen, an interaction too brief to register beyond a handshake.
Foley was in the sixth grade when the famed archbishop was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Rochester by Pope Paul VI in 1966.
“I recall being in the classroom, and we all looked at each other, wondering ‘How is that possible?’’’ Foley said. “We were totally fascinated by it.”
For years afterward, Foley and his siblings brought home report cards that were imprinted with Blessed Sheen’s name and signature.
Two years later, Blessed Sheen was visiting various parishes in the diocese and came to celebrate Mass at the Foley family’s parish, St. Thomas the Apostle. Being in the eighth grade, Foley had the advantage of seniority among the altar servers and was selected to serve with Blessed Sheen. While there was no opportunity for lengthy interaction, Foley treasures the memory.
“It was still a great thrill,” he said. “We knew we were in the presence of a very great man.”
For those who have not yet had opportunity to learn from Blessed Archbishop Sheen’s teachings, there are multiple opportunities available. Recordings of his radio program are available online at fultonsheen.com, the official website of the Fulton Sheen Foundation. Many of his television episodes are available to watch or rewatch on FORMED or YouTube.
Bishop Bruskewitz noted that the archbishop wrote some 66 books, many of which are still in print.
“One of the books I use a lot is ‘Life is Worth Living.’ That was the name he gave to his television program,” Bishop Bruskewitz recommended. “His writings were profound in many ways and still have a resonance today.”
Foley agreed that Blessed Archbishop Sheen’s teachings remain relevant. “As you read his writings and listen to his talks, I think it’s very obvious that he could see down the road. Everything he said is so relevant to today.”
For those who wish to read more, Foley suggested “The World’s First Love,” his personal favorite. “Some people would say that’s his best book.”
Perhaps the best way to celebrate Blessed Sheen’s beatification would be to emulate his most precious daily habit.
“Every day of his priesthood, he spent one hour on his knees, almost always in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament,” Bishop Bruskewitz said. “I attended many retreats when he was the retreat master, and he would stress the importance of that one hour of each day of your life, give it to God completely and totally, and it will be repaid to you many times over.”
