The Seven Virtues

by Fulton J. Sheen

2022 Reprint of the 1940 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. In this title Archbishop Sheen provides a collection of his sermons on the subject of the seven virtues. He encourages the reader to practice and reflect on each. These are the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity as well as the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude.

Sheen draws the reader's attention to the connection between these seven virtues and the Seven Last Words spoken by Jesus from the Cross. He correlates Jesus' last seven words to the seven virtues.



CONTENTS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

THE FIRST VIRTUE - FORTITUDE - "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

THE SECOND VIRTUE - HOPE - "This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."

THE THIRD VIRTUE - PRUDENCE - "Woman, behold thy son! (Son) Behold thy mother!."

THE FOURTH VIRTUE - FAITH - "My God! My God! Why hast Thou hast abandoned Me?"

THE FIFTH VIRTUE - TEMPERANCE - I thirst."



THE SIXTH VIRTUE - JUSTICE - "It is finished."

THE SEVENTH VIRTUE - CHARITY - "Father, into Thy Hands, I commend My Spirit."

109 pages, Hardcover

First published April 6, 1940

About the author

Fulton John Sheen was an American bishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois, in 1919, Sheen quickly became a renowned theologian, earning the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923. He went on to teach theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and served as a parish priest before he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in 1951. He held this position until 1966 when he was made bishop of the Diocese of Rochester in New York. He resigned as bishop of Rochester in 1969 as his 75th birthday approached and was made archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales.
For 20 years as "Father Sheen", later monsignor, he hosted the night-time radio program The Catholic Hour on NBC (1930–1950) before he moved to television and presented Life Is Worth Living (1952–1957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968) with a format that was very similar to that of the earlier Life Is Worth Living show. For that work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks. His contribution to televised preaching resulted in Sheen often being called one of the first televangelists.
The cause for his canonization was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues," a major step towards beatification, and he is now referred to as venerable. On July 5, 2019, Pope Francis approved a reputed miracle that occurred through the intercession of Sheen, clearing the way for his beatification. Sheen was scheduled to be beatified in Peoria on December 21, 2019, but his beatification was postponed after Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester expressed concern that Sheen's handling of a 1963 sexual misconduct case against a priest might be cited unfavorably in a forthcoming report from the New York Attorney General. The Diocese of Peoria countered that Sheen's handling of the case had already been "thoroughly examined" and "exonerated" and that Sheen had "never put children in harm's way".

Reviews

[Jeremiah Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great inspiration

Never had any easier understanding on God's words and virtues other than being written and articulated by the late Archbishop Fulton J Sheen! I will come back to get a new book and browse for more! Now I became hungry for the word.

[Ecnav Dragyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, pithy Fulton Sheen wisdom. The section on Divine Justice was especially poignant. Will be revisiting!

[Corrie Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheen beautifully weaves the seven virtues within the seven last words of Jesus. The last chapter on charity is not one to be missed! ❤️