On the Demonic

by Fulton J. Sheen, Fr. Dave Tomaszycki (editor)

In 1974, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen stated that he intended to write a book about the demonic. But such a book never came to fruition. Now, some fifty years later, Sheen's intended book has finally been compiled, all in his own words.

In On the Demonic, Sheen addresses the history of the demonic, how the devil manifested himself to Our Lord, how he has worked throughout the Church's history, and how the Anti-Christ will come in the end times.

Though Sheen is not optimistic about world history, he is most optimistic about Jesus' final victory: "There is one thing we do know. If Christ wins, we win!"

Genres: Religion, Christian, Christianity, Catholic, Faith

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2024

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

[Michael O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen about the evil forces within the world, how to recognize them, and how to combat them. Archbishop didn't actually write this book as a whole, but, rather, it is a posthumous amalgam of his observations and teachings on this topic from his decades of writing, teachings, and sermons --- assembled and edited capably by Fr. Dave Tomaszycki.

In general, Sheen observes that, in these times, the most prominent evidences of demonic activity are the love of nudity, violence, and a schizophrenic mentality. With respect to the latter, he is not so much referring to a psychiatric condition as a way of thinking blinded by pride, insecurity in personal identity, avoidance of difficulty and pain, and situational thinking such that it can no longer functionally know right and wrong, nor even call things what they clearly are.

As weapons against the demonic realm, Archbishop Sheen identifies and elaborates on their utility the following: the name of Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus Christ, and the role of Mary, the Mother of Christ. He does so with the clarity and eloquency that characterized his televised sermons during his life.

I recommend this for all Christians desiring to learn more on this topic; however, some Protestants may not agree with Sheen's emphasis on the role of an institutional catholic and apostolic church, Mary, and the saints in doing battle with the demonic.

[Carol Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Demonic

I remember watching "Life is Worth Living" as a young child. I thought it was amazing to see a priest on this new invention talking about God even a kid could understand and enjoy. He was flamboyant and funny...very entertaining and thought provoking. He kept my interest. He made sense. When reading his writings later on in life I could here his voice saying the words I was reading. It happened with this book too. Even though he's been dead over 40 years, I could imagine him on tv explaining/pleading with the world to wake up to the absolute truth. God is real. He loves all His creatures. The demonic is also real. The demonic does not love us and will do anything to keep us from our loving God. This book is Sheen's reminder to safeguard this truth, to be vigilant, to always remember God gives us what we need to fight the demonic. We must do our part and fight.

[Arief Prilyandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thinking this book was about the extraordinary activity of the devil, such as demonic possession. But it is not. This book is very applicable to current times, focusing on the ordinary activity of demons in our ordinary lives and what we face today. What Bishop Sheen discusses is something that emerged in his era, something in its early stages that has matured into today's ungodly world.

[Jessica piekarz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in a while.

I read this as part of a Catholic book club, and it was very impacting. Fulton was truly a prophet of his time. He made me completely change my view on several of the things he touched on.

[Robert Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit of an unusual one. Archbishop Sheen never actually wrote a book on the demonic. Apparently he meant to do so and he clearly had plenty of writings and speeches on the topic, but he never wrote it. So what is this book? This is an attempt by another individual to compile the Archbishop’s scattered writings on the topic into the closest thing we can come up with to what Sheen may have done if he’d gotten around to writing his own book. It may not be quite the final word in terms of what Sheen thought of demonic activity, but it’s the nearest we’re likely to get.

Importantly, except for a few editorial comments confined to footnotes and an introduction explaining the whole process, every word of the main text is actually Sheen’s. We may have to guess as to whether this was what he had in mind for a book, but we don’t have to guess at his thoughts as they’re presented. Every single word was taken from his speeches, his writings, his notebooks and archives.

What this is not is anything like a history of demonic possession or any of that sort of more sensational presentation of the demonic like we hear from the horror stories or from the tales of exorcists. Indeed, it barely considers such topics at all. Instead, Sheen is focused entirely on the ordinary forms of demonic activity. He observes what he thinks of as signs of the demonic in public affairs, in the media, in our daily lives, and suggests how the reader should recognize and oppose such activity.

Even though it might not be as sensational in its content as some other works on the subject, it’s presented with Sheen’s characteristic verbal flair, making it nevertheless one of the more exciting and engaging reads on the topic. Several times throughout my own reading I had to pause to copy down a quotation of particular relevance.

I’m not sure how many people these days remember who Archbishop Sheen was, but if you know his work you know he had a way with words and you won’t be disappointed by this one. If you don’t know his work, I’m not sure this is a better introduction to him than watching his own speeches, but it would make a pretty close second.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right up front - if you are looking for tales of exorcists, etc this is not the book you want.

Everything I have read by Fulton Sheen has been wonderful. This was not actually written directly by Sheen, but is a compilation of his notes, retreats, sermons and articles addressing the topic of demonic presence in society. Again, not about possessed people levitating type of demonic presence but more the insidious way Satan insinuates himself into our world and what the obvious signs of him are, as well as the things we can (must!) do to repel him.

[Brenda Bos · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is good, Orthodox Roman Catholic teaching here which is to be expected. But the editor compiled notes and lectures to put together this book and that occasionally shows, when things are repeated or not synthesized as well as possible.

This is not a treatise on demons as much as a good study on what separates humans from God.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book. I thoroughly enjoyed Fr. Dave’s compilation of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s wisdom on spiritual warfare. This is a book I will enjoy reading again and again and learn something new each time I do.

[Marc-André Renaud-Palardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah, si je pourrais mettre une sixième étoile j'en mettrais une. Ce livre est d'une profondeur extraordinaire, dit les vrai choses comme elles sont et est véritablement prophétique. Vénérable(bientôt Bienheureux) Fulton Sheen est véritablement percuttant dans ses mots. Je recommande hautement

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated—PG (my personal opinion based on content)

*Subject matter

[Thomas Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great exploration into the mind of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. although a compilation and extrapolation of his thoughs, this books reads like Sheen would have written himself.