The Divine Romance

by Fulton J. Sheen

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Genres: Catholic, Theology, Christianity, Religion, Faith

102 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

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

[Shevaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Divine Romance (1930) is the first book by Ven. Fulton Sheen I have read and is definitely a good place to start with his works!

Ven. Fulton Sheen's charisma and expertise shine brightly even through his words and this little journey of rationalizing and de-rationalizing your view of Christ as Love himself, is indescribable and unpredictable until you pick up the book and read it for yourself.

I am in awe of the beauty of Trinity, especially as wonderfully as Ven. Fulton Sheen has decoded it, he words the book in a perfect blend of the use of all senses, higher consciousness and the marvelous wonder of presence and being present.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ven. Fulton Sheen's approach, which is very different from generic Christian/Catholic texts, he writes and presents these scholarly mystic findings in a very spiritual and 'one with Christ' approach, thoroughly explaining the two true natures of Christ- fully God and fully man.

It is a most wonderful read, sure to raise your spirits and make you thirst for your return to Christ more, the softness & beauty of carrying your cross and a solid case for the need of the True, the Good and the Beatiful.
Truly a book I will read over and over again, praying God gives me the wisdom to fully comprehend these texts and imbibe them, Soli Deo Gloria, Viva Cristo Rey!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably shocking to see this back on your feed (I started it in May & have read much of it since I picked it back up last week). I wanted to love this book so bad but something kept me from coming back! I read the first third so fast but then slowed down and eventually picked it back up last week and had a similar experience here in the end.

I really enjoyed Ven. Fulton Sheen’s writing style at times— it felt a little scatterbrained but fast-paced and enticing, taking detours that I followed easily & wanted to follow him in; other times I felt it went over my head and I couldn’t follow what he was talking about. But some really really beautiful chapters on the cross, the Trinity, the Church, resurrection, and Christ’s sacrifice.

I’ll leave ya with a sweet lil quote from the last chapter about the aim of the Church—

“As a student I may be expected to know something of her aims, and as her priest I may be expected to know something of her secrets, and I honestly assure you, at the close of this series, that the Church seeks not the overthrow of governments, desires not to impede progress, strives not to persecute those who differ with her (I know all these things are said about her). But what she does seek, with the full ardor of her soul, is to bring minds captive to the understanding of Christ, to lead wills to the glorious liberty of the sons of God, to thrill human hearts with the love that leaves all others cold, and to open eyes to a beauty that leaves all other beauty plain.“

[Chase Rodrigue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this short insightful theological reflection on the love of God, Fulton Sheen in his characteristically poetic style, employing relatable concrete analogy and relevant historical events, backed with the tradition of the Catholic Church, invites readers to reflect on the love affair between God and man beginning from the very life of the Holy Trinity, exploring the tragic fall and triumphant redemption of man, and finally speaking an ever-needed message of hope about the life of the Church in the modern world.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dollop of Fulton Sheen's Christology. Shows off his sweeping view of the universe, humanity, and how this Jesus Christ ends up being so central to both. He had a lot in common with Chesterton in that he thought big and had a way with colorful turns of phrase.

[Keith Mokry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough, compelling, thoughtful, and beautiful presentation of the Gospel message.
Divinization only appears in a muddied way in the context of other explanations, such as his chapter on the mystical body of Christ.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new recommendation to any Christian to read. Phenomenal. Short and easy to read.

[Zeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful, poetic, inspiring and life changing.

[Fr. Dave Tomaszycki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An early--and short--Sheen book, this is Sheen's explanation of the Trinity.

[Kaylorgarcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's short, but it does a great job of synthesizing beliefs in a theological manner. It also has beautiful language in describing God and how the world is.