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THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST
The Mystical Body of Christ captures the theological brilliance of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, nationally renowned Catholic television and radio personality, before his meteoric rise to fame in the 1950s. First published in 1935, this book reveals Sheen's accessibility and theologically astute teaching styles as he writes about the Church as an extension of the Incarnation. Recent advances in his cause for canonization make this classic text especially timely.
The Mystical Body of Christ captures the theological precision and communicative genius of Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979), whose radio and television broadcasts, including Life Is Worth Living , have reached millions of homes since the 1950s. With more than thirty of his works still in print, Sheen is one of the most beloved Catholic evangelists of all time.
This full-length and fully developed work on the Church as an extension of the Incarnation reveals Sheen's accessible and theologically astute teaching style in the early years of his ministry. First published in 1935, the book's themes of the Eucharist as a source of unity for the Mystical Body of Christ--the Church--and the link between the liturgy and works of social justice were echoed in the Second Vatican Council several decades later.
A recent advance in Sheen's cause for beatification, the healing of a young boy for which there is no medical explanation, will create renewed interest among his admirers and introduce the spirituality of this Catholic icon to a whole new generation of believers.
The Mystical Body of Christ captures the theological precision and communicative genius of Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979), whose radio and television broadcasts, including Life Is Worth Living , have reached millions of homes since the 1950s. With more than thirty of his works still in print, Sheen is one of the most beloved Catholic evangelists of all time.
This full-length and fully developed work on the Church as an extension of the Incarnation reveals Sheen's accessible and theologically astute teaching style in the early years of his ministry. First published in 1935, the book's themes of the Eucharist as a source of unity for the Mystical Body of Christ--the Church--and the link between the liturgy and works of social justice were echoed in the Second Vatican Council several decades later.
A recent advance in Sheen's cause for beatification, the healing of a young boy for which there is no medical explanation, will create renewed interest among his admirers and introduce the spirituality of this Catholic icon to a whole new generation of believers.
Hardcover
First published March 9, 2015
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About the author
Fulton J. Sheen
522 books742 followersFulton 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".
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".
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 10, 2016
As is typical after reading a book by Sheen, I now have a new, richer understanding of an aspect of my faith. Understanding the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ helps us to see the Church as more of an organism rather than a rigid institution. Sheen's wisdom is uncanny and he can engage the simplest of minds, leading them into the greatest mysteries of our faith.
December 21, 2019
Written in 1934 you see in full evidence various themes and thoughts that would be displayed in his public career. So some were familiar while also bringing about a wealth of metaphors in describing the Mystical Body of Christ. Rich in the theology and bringing it down to an introductory level.
October 1, 2023
Fulton Sheen, the patron saint of the conservative Catholic movement in the US, takes on the concept of the Church as the mystical body of Christ.
I am SHELVING this because I actually cannot stomach going back to it. I was interested to try to dig into this book, lauded by quite a few prominent Catholic spokespersons today, to see how this text makes sense of what the Church is. There is no doubt that this text is being pushed today in an attempt to revitalize and refresh the image and reputation of the Church. It is difficult for me to find respectful words to describe my feelings about this.
"I know the conclusion follows that therefore the Church is liable to error. But the premises are false. ... The Church is infallible because Christ is infallible. There is no escape escape to say that Christ is not Truth, that He did not prolong His Truth, that He did not guarantee its preservation, and that He did not mean what He said when He promised to keep the Church from error until the end of days. But to say that is to surrender even the hope of living."
It is somehow both shocking and not at all surprising to see Sheen wrap his philosophy and argumentation in neat little ribbons of tautologies.
Shocking, as one looks at the history of the Church, and has the gall to suggest the Church has been infallible.
Not at all surprising, as we are so used to this kind of bullshit.
"Now if the Church, cleansed and sanctified by Christ, is perpetually animated and fructified by His Spirit, she must necessarily bear corresponding fruit at all times and lead at least some of her members to the glorious heritage of the children of God."
I will admit to being interested in a true discussion of the mystical body of Christ, but such a discussion must humble itself in front of the sins and suffering that were borne from the branches of the Church. One must wrangle with history and those branches of the tree that are diseased and riddled with lichen and rot- must wrangle with ideas that a pope in the 19th century beatified (that is, recognized as a saint) Pope Urban II, the very man who started the Crusades. None of us are to judge the soul of a person, certainly, for none of us can know the heart of a person. But in Pope Urban II you had a made who used the power of his position to declare the forgiveness of sins for those who went to fight in the Crusades.
One must wrangle with the deaths of indigenous children and abuse of indigenous people. One must wrangle with the abuse of children. One must wrangle with usury, holy wars, etc etc etc .
We can't be too surprised that conservative Catholics drool over Sheen. Look at this quote just a page or two into the book:
"Whether we fully realize it yet or not, on the bloody anvil of the World War we began to beat out a new civilization in which there will be either brotherhood in Christ or comradeship in anti-Christ."
Dualism and tautology characterize so much of Sheen's thought - it is no wonder he was beloved on TV by the masses. Excuse my cynicism.
Beyond these, the fundamental premise of socialism/communism being anti-Christ shines throughout. "But His creatures could think of two other plans, and they are still thinking of them—the democratic and the aristocratic." Christians clearly could never think or participate in other ways of structuring society - caste-based, socialism, slavery, monarchical, etc. etc. etc.
Sheen is opium for those Americans dreaming of Norman Rockwell paintings and the 1950s. Stay away from this propaganda.
I am SHELVING this because I actually cannot stomach going back to it. I was interested to try to dig into this book, lauded by quite a few prominent Catholic spokespersons today, to see how this text makes sense of what the Church is. There is no doubt that this text is being pushed today in an attempt to revitalize and refresh the image and reputation of the Church. It is difficult for me to find respectful words to describe my feelings about this.
"I know the conclusion follows that therefore the Church is liable to error. But the premises are false. ... The Church is infallible because Christ is infallible. There is no escape escape to say that Christ is not Truth, that He did not prolong His Truth, that He did not guarantee its preservation, and that He did not mean what He said when He promised to keep the Church from error until the end of days. But to say that is to surrender even the hope of living."
It is somehow both shocking and not at all surprising to see Sheen wrap his philosophy and argumentation in neat little ribbons of tautologies.
Shocking, as one looks at the history of the Church, and has the gall to suggest the Church has been infallible.
Not at all surprising, as we are so used to this kind of bullshit.
"Now if the Church, cleansed and sanctified by Christ, is perpetually animated and fructified by His Spirit, she must necessarily bear corresponding fruit at all times and lead at least some of her members to the glorious heritage of the children of God."
I will admit to being interested in a true discussion of the mystical body of Christ, but such a discussion must humble itself in front of the sins and suffering that were borne from the branches of the Church. One must wrangle with history and those branches of the tree that are diseased and riddled with lichen and rot- must wrangle with ideas that a pope in the 19th century beatified (that is, recognized as a saint) Pope Urban II, the very man who started the Crusades. None of us are to judge the soul of a person, certainly, for none of us can know the heart of a person. But in Pope Urban II you had a made who used the power of his position to declare the forgiveness of sins for those who went to fight in the Crusades.
One must wrangle with the deaths of indigenous children and abuse of indigenous people. One must wrangle with the abuse of children. One must wrangle with usury, holy wars, etc etc etc .
We can't be too surprised that conservative Catholics drool over Sheen. Look at this quote just a page or two into the book:
"Whether we fully realize it yet or not, on the bloody anvil of the World War we began to beat out a new civilization in which there will be either brotherhood in Christ or comradeship in anti-Christ."
Dualism and tautology characterize so much of Sheen's thought - it is no wonder he was beloved on TV by the masses. Excuse my cynicism.
Beyond these, the fundamental premise of socialism/communism being anti-Christ shines throughout. "But His creatures could think of two other plans, and they are still thinking of them—the democratic and the aristocratic." Christians clearly could never think or participate in other ways of structuring society - caste-based, socialism, slavery, monarchical, etc. etc. etc.
Sheen is opium for those Americans dreaming of Norman Rockwell paintings and the 1950s. Stay away from this propaganda.
August 14, 2015
The Mystical Body of Christ is a reprint of a Fulton Sheen classic from 80 years ago! Let that sink in for a minute. In 1935, Pius XI was Pope. Vatican II was still roughly thirty years away, and World War II was on the horizon. Can a book this old still be relevant to the Church and culture today? Or is this merely a book that must be read in the context which it was written? Keep reading and find out.
Before one reads the text of The Mystical Body of Christ, we are treated to a Foreword by Bishop Robert Barron and an Introduction by Brandon Vogt. Both men work at Word of Fire Catholic Ministries and do great work for the Catholic Church. Immediately, after these two sections we dive into the words of the beloved Bishop Fulton Sheen. He explains in his introduction that there hasn't been a definitive study on the Church since the Reformation. He attributes this to a lack of persecution. You have no need to define yourself; defend yourself when someone isn't questioning, doubting, or persecuting you. It makes sense.
The book begins with an explanation of the Church through the lens of Jesus Christ. There is no better place to start than this, because the two cannot be separated. Sheen begins by explaining the three phases of the Life of Christ - the earthly life, the glorified life, and the mystical life. He then devotes an entire chapter to the Mystical Body of Christ. This is a long chapter with a lot of spiritual meat to chew on. I found myself reading and re-reading passages to try and digest the topic more fully, and I truly believe I could go back and re-read that chapter and still gain more and more from it. For example, Sheen instructs us that, "Christ and His Mystical Body make but one Mystical Person. A Mystical Person has a double existence: one in Himself as Head of the Mystical Body, and the other in the Body of the faithful who receive his Life." Read that several times and let it sink in. The following chapters then more fully discuss Christ as Head of the Body and the Holy Spirit as the Soul of the Church. Other chapters talk about infallibility, authority of the Church, priesthood, and Mary, just to name a few of the 28 chapters.
The chapter entitled "The Sacrifice of the Mystical Body" was a very beautiful chapter on Christ's Crucifixion. Sheen begins by explaining that before most men die, they prepare a last will or testament. Jesus instituted a memorial of His sacrifice in the form of the Eucharist. He goes on to explain that the Mass is more than a memorial service of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, but is instead the sacrifice on the Cross. Sheen also explains that the offertory of the Mass is a co-offering of Christ and us and the consecration is also a co-consecration of Jesus and us. Sheen goes on to say, "Calvary, then, is the source of Divine Life; the altar is the canal. Calvary is the Treasury of merit; the Mass is its application; Calvary is the reservoir of Grace; the Mass is the open flood-gates pouring it into our souls."
When I received this book, I was expecting some practical theology from the original television evangelist. However, this book was written well before his time on the airwaves, and when he was still a professor at Catholic University of America (CUA). Thus, this book provides an astonishing glimpse at his theological genius. Those who studied under him at CUA were blessed indeed, and all of us are blessed that he eventually shared his genius with the whole world. This book will take you some time to work your way through, but if you can persevere to the end of it, you will be all the richer. Five stars.
Before one reads the text of The Mystical Body of Christ, we are treated to a Foreword by Bishop Robert Barron and an Introduction by Brandon Vogt. Both men work at Word of Fire Catholic Ministries and do great work for the Catholic Church. Immediately, after these two sections we dive into the words of the beloved Bishop Fulton Sheen. He explains in his introduction that there hasn't been a definitive study on the Church since the Reformation. He attributes this to a lack of persecution. You have no need to define yourself; defend yourself when someone isn't questioning, doubting, or persecuting you. It makes sense.
The book begins with an explanation of the Church through the lens of Jesus Christ. There is no better place to start than this, because the two cannot be separated. Sheen begins by explaining the three phases of the Life of Christ - the earthly life, the glorified life, and the mystical life. He then devotes an entire chapter to the Mystical Body of Christ. This is a long chapter with a lot of spiritual meat to chew on. I found myself reading and re-reading passages to try and digest the topic more fully, and I truly believe I could go back and re-read that chapter and still gain more and more from it. For example, Sheen instructs us that, "Christ and His Mystical Body make but one Mystical Person. A Mystical Person has a double existence: one in Himself as Head of the Mystical Body, and the other in the Body of the faithful who receive his Life." Read that several times and let it sink in. The following chapters then more fully discuss Christ as Head of the Body and the Holy Spirit as the Soul of the Church. Other chapters talk about infallibility, authority of the Church, priesthood, and Mary, just to name a few of the 28 chapters.
The chapter entitled "The Sacrifice of the Mystical Body" was a very beautiful chapter on Christ's Crucifixion. Sheen begins by explaining that before most men die, they prepare a last will or testament. Jesus instituted a memorial of His sacrifice in the form of the Eucharist. He goes on to explain that the Mass is more than a memorial service of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, but is instead the sacrifice on the Cross. Sheen also explains that the offertory of the Mass is a co-offering of Christ and us and the consecration is also a co-consecration of Jesus and us. Sheen goes on to say, "Calvary, then, is the source of Divine Life; the altar is the canal. Calvary is the Treasury of merit; the Mass is its application; Calvary is the reservoir of Grace; the Mass is the open flood-gates pouring it into our souls."
When I received this book, I was expecting some practical theology from the original television evangelist. However, this book was written well before his time on the airwaves, and when he was still a professor at Catholic University of America (CUA). Thus, this book provides an astonishing glimpse at his theological genius. Those who studied under him at CUA were blessed indeed, and all of us are blessed that he eventually shared his genius with the whole world. This book will take you some time to work your way through, but if you can persevere to the end of it, you will be all the richer. Five stars.
December 26, 2023
This book is a beautiful read for anyone open to understanding better what the “Mystical Body of Christ” Church teaching is all about.
With Christ as the head of the body and we the Baptized as contributing parts of his mystical body, we bring all of our individual uniqueness to this living spiritual organism while at the same time working together collectively. It explains why “if one of us is hurting” we all hurt and the expectation Jesus has of us. It also includes other teachings such as “bearing one another’s burdens” even when we don’t feel like it?
For me this book brought together individual concepts, teachings, scripture verses, etc giving it a unified description of a much, much bigger picture. It’s big. It’s beautiful. And no one talks about this!
Fulton Sheen’s writing flows beautifully and is meaningful and easy to understand while still being a most thought provoking read. Do not judge this book based on seeing old videos of Sheen as I have to admit they are hard for me to watch. His writing is beautiful and although written many years ago is even more relevant today. .
I read it in just a few days because I was so drawn to the content in general. After finishing it, I shut it and thought “wow” - I better step up my game in my role within Christ’s Mystical Body.
Although profoundly Catholic, I think all Christians would appreciate this book providing greater depts to belief. Non Christians may be drawn to the beautiful concept of this spiritual organism led by Christ and how it pertains to physical churches to provide physical community and Sacraments.
With Christ as the head of the body and we the Baptized as contributing parts of his mystical body, we bring all of our individual uniqueness to this living spiritual organism while at the same time working together collectively. It explains why “if one of us is hurting” we all hurt and the expectation Jesus has of us. It also includes other teachings such as “bearing one another’s burdens” even when we don’t feel like it?
For me this book brought together individual concepts, teachings, scripture verses, etc giving it a unified description of a much, much bigger picture. It’s big. It’s beautiful. And no one talks about this!
Fulton Sheen’s writing flows beautifully and is meaningful and easy to understand while still being a most thought provoking read. Do not judge this book based on seeing old videos of Sheen as I have to admit they are hard for me to watch. His writing is beautiful and although written many years ago is even more relevant today. .
I read it in just a few days because I was so drawn to the content in general. After finishing it, I shut it and thought “wow” - I better step up my game in my role within Christ’s Mystical Body.
Although profoundly Catholic, I think all Christians would appreciate this book providing greater depts to belief. Non Christians may be drawn to the beautiful concept of this spiritual organism led by Christ and how it pertains to physical churches to provide physical community and Sacraments.
April 11, 2023
Tremendous insight from a fantastic teacher. Archbishop Sheen describes how the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, breathes , believes, and lives; and the relationships that exist because of it.
September 19, 2018
Timeless Lessons
I discovered this book through Bishop Barron’s video. And thanks to him, I discovered Fulton Sheen. Fulton Sheen’s words are timeless, inspiring, and makes us love God more. I am planning to read his other books. Give him a try and you will fall in love with his work, as well.
I discovered this book through Bishop Barron’s video. And thanks to him, I discovered Fulton Sheen. Fulton Sheen’s words are timeless, inspiring, and makes us love God more. I am planning to read his other books. Give him a try and you will fall in love with his work, as well.
March 18, 2024
A thorough but easy to understand rundown of exactly what the Church is (spoiler alert, it's in the title) how we make up our part in it and how the Church relates not just to Christ but to all three Persons of the Trinity. Ven Fulton Sheen was an extremely intelligent man and well deserves his accolades. Highly recommend for anyone looking for an Easter season read.
July 5, 2018
Great read
This book was the best explanation I have ever read on the title subject of the book. Archbishop Sheen, once again, wrote a masterpiece with this book.
This book was the best explanation I have ever read on the title subject of the book. Archbishop Sheen, once again, wrote a masterpiece with this book.
December 20, 2023
An amazing book that was written in the 30s that is as relevant today as it was then. It will be a books that I reference over and over.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews