The Rainbow of Sorrow

by Fulton J. Sheen

American bishop and evangelist Fulton J. Sheen expounds on the seven last words of Christ from the Cross, treating in the following order: Unjust Suffering ("Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"), Pain ("This day, thou shalt be with Me in Paradise"), Suffering of the Innocent ("Woman, behold thy son! Son, behold thy mother!"), God and the Soul ("My God! My God! Why hast Thou abandoned Me?"), The Need for Zeal ("I thirst"), A Planned Universe ("It is finished"), and Eternal Freedom ("Father, into Thy Hands, I commend My Spirit").

Genres: Theology

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1938

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

[Klara Rawdanowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Sheen used Christ’s final words from the cross as the foundation for an in-depth reflection on suffering and it’s purpose and meaning for us in this world. This writing provides deep consolations and heavenly perspectives for those who might find themselves in a period of life with particularly intense suffering.

[Wendy Wong Schirmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pain in itself is not unbearable; it is the failure to understand its meaning that is unbearable. If that thief did not see purpose in pain he would never have saved his soul. Pain can be the death of our soul, or it can be its life."

Sheen is short and accessible, but very profound as always here in this meditation on suffering. "Rainbow of Sorrow" is good for contemplation, particularly in conjunction with the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.

[Ryan Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One of the greatest tragedies in the world is wasted pain. Pain without relation to the cross is like an unsigned check - without value. But once we have it countersigned with the signature of the Savior on the Cross, it takes on an infinite value [...] All the sickbeds in the world, therefore, are either on the right side of the Cross or on the left; their position is determined by whether, like the thief on the left, they ask to be taken down, or, like the thief on the right, they ask to be taken up."

[Olivia Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unbelievable reading experience
A must read for people who know the bishop Fulton Sheen and his guidance to people in this life that we are living in
Olivia

[The Nutmeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Good Friday gem from Fulton Sheen!

Minimally relevant notes: Sheen is a poet. Like, on a level with Chesterton (whose influence is palpable, which makes me happy). And he quotes so much poetry, particularly Francis Thompson. In short, the better I get to know this man the more I like him.