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Your Life Is Worth Living: 50 Lessons to Deepen Your Faith
Fifty inspiring lessons to deepen your faith from one of the leading religious figures of the twentieth century and author of the Catholic bestseller
Life of Christ
.
For over four decades, Fulton Sheen was the face of Catholicism in America and literally received hundreds of thousands of letters from people around the world in search of truth, faith, salvation, and spiritual guidance. In this newly repackaged reissue of one of Sheen's classic works, the Emmy Award-winning priest takes an intimate look at our sacred journey to God and answers some of life's most profound questions. With his clever wit and straightforward language, he explains how we can find contentment in the modern world by applying the Christian philosophy of life in our day-to-day exchanges.
Drawing authority from scripture, and created for people of all ages and backgrounds, Sheen explores our journey home to God in an insightful conversation designed to strengthen the reader's personal relationship with Jesus. Sheen also shares humorous stories that made him one of the most celebrated personalities of his time. This book is a lasting testament that your life is worth living.
For over four decades, Fulton Sheen was the face of Catholicism in America and literally received hundreds of thousands of letters from people around the world in search of truth, faith, salvation, and spiritual guidance. In this newly repackaged reissue of one of Sheen's classic works, the Emmy Award-winning priest takes an intimate look at our sacred journey to God and answers some of life's most profound questions. With his clever wit and straightforward language, he explains how we can find contentment in the modern world by applying the Christian philosophy of life in our day-to-day exchanges.
Drawing authority from scripture, and created for people of all ages and backgrounds, Sheen explores our journey home to God in an insightful conversation designed to strengthen the reader's personal relationship with Jesus. Sheen also shares humorous stories that made him one of the most celebrated personalities of his time. This book is a lasting testament that your life is worth living.
432 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2019
315 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Fulton J. Sheen
579 books759 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 2, 2019
This particular book is available in numerous editions from several publishers. A few with shorter titles of ‘The Life of all Living’ and ‘Life Is Worth Living’ in researching this review I came across 24 different editions, and three different subtitles also. The subtitle of this edition is, ’50 Lessons to Deepen Your Faith’, some of the others are: ‘The Christian Philosophy of Life’ and ‘First and Second Series’. For this book is compiled from a series of audio recordings that ran over 21 hours on 25 vinyl records. The book was composed to take those lessons and make them available in a different medium, as it had been available only on vinyl and cassette for over 20 years. The sections in this book are:
Foreword By Robert Barron
Preface To The 2001 Edition
Part I: God And Man
1: The Philosophy Of Life
2: Conscience
3: Good And Evil
4: The Divine Invasion
5: Line Up The Claimants
6: Revealed Truth
7: Miracles
8: New Testament Revelation
Part II: Christ And His Church
9: Divinity Of Christ
10: Humanity Of Christ
11: The Blessed Trinity
12: The Mother Of Jesus
13: Christ In The Creed: Birth
14: Sufferings, Death, And Resurrection
15: Ascension
16: Holy Spirit
17: Church: Body Of Christ
18: Peter: Vicar Of Christ
19: Authority And Infallibility
20: Communism And The Church
Part III: Sin
21: Original Sin And Angels
22: Original Sin And Mankind
23: Effects Of Original Sin
24: Sanctifying Grace
Part Iv: Sacraments
25: Grace And The Sacraments
26: Baptism
27: Confirmation
28: Holy Eucharist
29: The Eucharistic Sacrifice
30: The Mass
31: Sin
32: Sin And Penance
33: Penance
34: Sacrament Of The Sick
35: Holy Orders
36: The Sacrament Of Marriage
Part V: World, Soul And Things
37: Sex Is A Mystery
38: Birth Prevention
39: The Four Tensions Of Love
40: Marriage Problems
41: Commandments 1–3
42: Commandments 4–10
43: The Law Of Love: Total Commitment
44: Death And Judgment
45: Purgatory
46: Heaven Is Not So Far Away
47: The Hell There Is
48: The Feminine Principle In Religion
49: Prayer Is A Dialogue
50: World, Soul, And Things
Reflection And Study Guide By Maura Poston Zagrans
Bishop Robert Barron in the forward to this edition states:
“The book you’re about to read is the closest thing we have to a Summa Sheeniana, a summary of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s teaching on the Christian faith. Much of the wisdom contained in Sheen’s radio programs, television shows, sermons, classroom presentations, retreat talks, books, and lectures is synthetically presented here. The essays gathered in this book are written transcripts of audiotapes that the greatest Catholic evangelist of the twentieth century made in 1965, when he was seventy years old. What you hear is the confident voice of an old pro, a master teacher who had been plowing the evangelical and apologetic field for some forty years.”
He also states:
“Second, he demonstrates in this book, and indeed throughout his work, a marvelously integrated understanding of the mysteries of the Christian faith. We have entered, sadly in my judgment, into an era of hyperspecialization in theology. According to the cliché, we have many theologians and philosophers who know more and more about less and less. But Sheen ranges widely and comfortably over the whole arena of Catholic thought, speculating on creation, the Incarnation, the doctrine of God, the Trinity, theological anthropology, Grace, Sin, Redemption, the Resurrection, the blessed Mother, the Papacy, and the Mystical Body. And he doesn’t simply cover this extraordinarily wide terrain. He shows the interconnections among the various topics, how, for instance, the Church is the prolongation of the Incarnation across space and time and why the virginity of Mary is an indicator of the truth of the Incarnation; how a correct understanding of sin leads to a correct understanding of the Cross, et cetera. In so doing, he practices the art of truly systematic theology, and he manages thereby to make the faith satisfying both to the intellectual and to the aesthetic sensibility of his reader.”
This book was an incredible read. I had a hard time putting it down and enjoyed it so much that as soon as I finished reading it, I put it back on my ‘to be read list’! I have a feeling that this is one of those books that I will read annually for many years to come. And with each reading will find something new and life changing to apply, to reflect upon, and to grow in. I am certain the next time I read this book I will take my time and read each of the 50 chapters over 50 days. There is such a wealth of knowledge and applicable material in this volume to our lives today.
I only started reading Sheen a few years ago. In that time I have read 13 books by or about Sheen, and I can declare that this is one of the best. If someone were to ask me where to start with Sheen’s works going forward, this book will be at the top of my list.
An excellent read that I can not stress how import a read this is. Pick it up I am sure you will not be disappointed!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by and about Fulton J.Sheen.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
Foreword By Robert Barron
Preface To The 2001 Edition
Part I: God And Man
1: The Philosophy Of Life
2: Conscience
3: Good And Evil
4: The Divine Invasion
5: Line Up The Claimants
6: Revealed Truth
7: Miracles
8: New Testament Revelation
Part II: Christ And His Church
9: Divinity Of Christ
10: Humanity Of Christ
11: The Blessed Trinity
12: The Mother Of Jesus
13: Christ In The Creed: Birth
14: Sufferings, Death, And Resurrection
15: Ascension
16: Holy Spirit
17: Church: Body Of Christ
18: Peter: Vicar Of Christ
19: Authority And Infallibility
20: Communism And The Church
Part III: Sin
21: Original Sin And Angels
22: Original Sin And Mankind
23: Effects Of Original Sin
24: Sanctifying Grace
Part Iv: Sacraments
25: Grace And The Sacraments
26: Baptism
27: Confirmation
28: Holy Eucharist
29: The Eucharistic Sacrifice
30: The Mass
31: Sin
32: Sin And Penance
33: Penance
34: Sacrament Of The Sick
35: Holy Orders
36: The Sacrament Of Marriage
Part V: World, Soul And Things
37: Sex Is A Mystery
38: Birth Prevention
39: The Four Tensions Of Love
40: Marriage Problems
41: Commandments 1–3
42: Commandments 4–10
43: The Law Of Love: Total Commitment
44: Death And Judgment
45: Purgatory
46: Heaven Is Not So Far Away
47: The Hell There Is
48: The Feminine Principle In Religion
49: Prayer Is A Dialogue
50: World, Soul, And Things
Reflection And Study Guide By Maura Poston Zagrans
Bishop Robert Barron in the forward to this edition states:
“The book you’re about to read is the closest thing we have to a Summa Sheeniana, a summary of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s teaching on the Christian faith. Much of the wisdom contained in Sheen’s radio programs, television shows, sermons, classroom presentations, retreat talks, books, and lectures is synthetically presented here. The essays gathered in this book are written transcripts of audiotapes that the greatest Catholic evangelist of the twentieth century made in 1965, when he was seventy years old. What you hear is the confident voice of an old pro, a master teacher who had been plowing the evangelical and apologetic field for some forty years.”
He also states:
“Second, he demonstrates in this book, and indeed throughout his work, a marvelously integrated understanding of the mysteries of the Christian faith. We have entered, sadly in my judgment, into an era of hyperspecialization in theology. According to the cliché, we have many theologians and philosophers who know more and more about less and less. But Sheen ranges widely and comfortably over the whole arena of Catholic thought, speculating on creation, the Incarnation, the doctrine of God, the Trinity, theological anthropology, Grace, Sin, Redemption, the Resurrection, the blessed Mother, the Papacy, and the Mystical Body. And he doesn’t simply cover this extraordinarily wide terrain. He shows the interconnections among the various topics, how, for instance, the Church is the prolongation of the Incarnation across space and time and why the virginity of Mary is an indicator of the truth of the Incarnation; how a correct understanding of sin leads to a correct understanding of the Cross, et cetera. In so doing, he practices the art of truly systematic theology, and he manages thereby to make the faith satisfying both to the intellectual and to the aesthetic sensibility of his reader.”
This book was an incredible read. I had a hard time putting it down and enjoyed it so much that as soon as I finished reading it, I put it back on my ‘to be read list’! I have a feeling that this is one of those books that I will read annually for many years to come. And with each reading will find something new and life changing to apply, to reflect upon, and to grow in. I am certain the next time I read this book I will take my time and read each of the 50 chapters over 50 days. There is such a wealth of knowledge and applicable material in this volume to our lives today.
I only started reading Sheen a few years ago. In that time I have read 13 books by or about Sheen, and I can declare that this is one of the best. If someone were to ask me where to start with Sheen’s works going forward, this book will be at the top of my list.
An excellent read that I can not stress how import a read this is. Pick it up I am sure you will not be disappointed!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by and about Fulton J.Sheen.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
December 13, 2022
This book was beautiful. It is truly extraordinary, and as I was reading it I didn't realize how attached I had become. At the end, I wanted to cry. It was a whole journey, and Fulton Sheen is a genius.
June 24, 2010
LOVE his clear answers to theological questions - like what's the difference between foreknowledge and predetermination? Why is free will a prerequisite to love and to moral living? How does obedience give us freedom? How does Christ compare to other religious leaders? Was Mary really a virgin? What came first, the Church or the Bible? What's with having four Gospels? Why trust in an "infallible" Pope? Is the Church a type of dictatorship? Does Catholicism revolve around dogma?
May 21, 2021
It is impossible to experience Venerable Fulton Sheen and not be moved. This book is a concise encyclopedia of the Catholic Faith and a powerful source of insight, wisdom, and encouragement. Archbishop Sheen has a way with words and his stories make the teachings of our Faith real, accessible, and relevant. This book is a great supplement to my own spiritual journey and one I am certain I will return to time and time again.
December 6, 2020
Fulton Sheen Deepens Your Faith
These 50 lessons by Fulton Sheen provide excellent insights as a guide into deepening your faith. Bishop Sheen uses numerous analogies to simplify difficult topics- like the Holy Trinity for example- and make it easily understandable in layman terms. I highly recommend this book for those searching answers in their spiritual life.
These 50 lessons by Fulton Sheen provide excellent insights as a guide into deepening your faith. Bishop Sheen uses numerous analogies to simplify difficult topics- like the Holy Trinity for example- and make it easily understandable in layman terms. I highly recommend this book for those searching answers in their spiritual life.
June 15, 2020
Must read
Bishop Sheen has a wonderful way of explaining everything about the Catholic faith. His use of humor, story telling, and quoting from the Bible all make it easier to understand and be able to explain to others the Catholic faith.
Bishop Sheen has a wonderful way of explaining everything about the Catholic faith. His use of humor, story telling, and quoting from the Bible all make it easier to understand and be able to explain to others the Catholic faith.
August 11, 2014
This man is on his way to saint hood, I love his clear answers to topics that are new and relevant still today.
February 6, 2015
About half audiobook, half printed copy. I highly recommend the audiobook. There's nothing like Ven. Bishop Sheen's voice.
March 14, 2023
Excellent. Spiritually sound, thought provoking, and inspiring.
July 19, 2022
Excellent bones
I love Fulton Sheen. Thanks for your Word and Sacrament ministry.
This book has excellent moments, especially when he is convincing a 20th century (now 21st century online) heart that he is just like the evangelical preachers they’re hearing on the radio.
He is honest. Early on he sets 3 rules he says must not be broken when considering a messiah, and the third rule binds the reader’s conscience, as Catholic Priests are oft to do. It binds the conscience because it is not scriptural. Fulton Sheen waves his hand and because he said so, “the messiah must not teach anything against reason or logic.” And if you don’t close the book here, he got you!
Nothing against logic or rationality? There goes the virgin birth, incarnation, and mercy to sinners.
Again, if he still has you reading after this point, he can tell you about the purple elephants you must believe in (that aren’t in the scriptures) or you’ll go to hell!
Unfortunately, once you’re 200 pages in, he pulls out the Catholic classics: Peter is the god-man bishop of Rome in place of Christ, because he said so. Mary is pleased to intercede on our behalf and give us grace, because Sheen said so. If your church isn’t in submission to the Bishop of Rome, your sacraments are invalid and you may go to hell, because Sheen said so.
I highly warn easily convinced people who are new to the faith to not read this one until later. His (sometimes) whimsical (sometimes bizarre and also binding of conscience) stories are better experienced while falling asleep to his YouTube content.
I love Fulton Sheen. Thanks for your Word and Sacrament ministry.
This book has excellent moments, especially when he is convincing a 20th century (now 21st century online) heart that he is just like the evangelical preachers they’re hearing on the radio.
He is honest. Early on he sets 3 rules he says must not be broken when considering a messiah, and the third rule binds the reader’s conscience, as Catholic Priests are oft to do. It binds the conscience because it is not scriptural. Fulton Sheen waves his hand and because he said so, “the messiah must not teach anything against reason or logic.” And if you don’t close the book here, he got you!
Nothing against logic or rationality? There goes the virgin birth, incarnation, and mercy to sinners.
Again, if he still has you reading after this point, he can tell you about the purple elephants you must believe in (that aren’t in the scriptures) or you’ll go to hell!
Unfortunately, once you’re 200 pages in, he pulls out the Catholic classics: Peter is the god-man bishop of Rome in place of Christ, because he said so. Mary is pleased to intercede on our behalf and give us grace, because Sheen said so. If your church isn’t in submission to the Bishop of Rome, your sacraments are invalid and you may go to hell, because Sheen said so.
I highly warn easily convinced people who are new to the faith to not read this one until later. His (sometimes) whimsical (sometimes bizarre and also binding of conscience) stories are better experienced while falling asleep to his YouTube content.
January 26, 2025
Before Bishop Barron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and even Mother Angelica on EWTN, there was Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. Bishop Sheen's media career started off with a successful radio program in the 1930s, which eventually lead him to host the TV broadcast program Life is Worth Living on ABC. And he was everywhere, even making an appearance on What's My Line? in 1956. A Catholic bishop hosting a television talk show on a mainstream network seems such a foreign concept to us these days--but he truly was one of the first "famous Catholics" in the modern age, whose reach extended even to those outside the Church. This book is a written version of a series of records he produced in the 1960s with 50 brief lessons on Catholic theology, morality, and doctrine. While there are a few outdated references, Bishop Sheen explains each topic well and usually includes a story to illustrate his point. He references Scripture profusely, as well as various works of literature (both sacred and secular). The footnotes at the end of each chapter are helpful if you want to know more. I found the following chapters particularly meaningful or interesting: "Line Up the Claimants", "Communism and the Church", "Confirmation", "Sin/Sin and Penance/Penance" (a series of three chapters on confession), "Heaven is Not so Far Away", and "Mother of Jesus".
I borrowed this from the library, but I'd love to own a copy to reflect on once in a while. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us!
I borrowed this from the library, but I'd love to own a copy to reflect on once in a while. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us!
November 10, 2020
I grew up Lutheran and currently attend a non-denominational church.
Even though I didn’t agree with everything Sheen says, I still found so much of his sentiment full of wisdom. Sheen’s prose and imagery truly pulls you in, and I love how easy it is to pick and choose topics that are in bite-sized chapters for you.
This was truly a joy to read, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking to deepen their faith, no matter what denomination you may be.
Even though I didn’t agree with everything Sheen says, I still found so much of his sentiment full of wisdom. Sheen’s prose and imagery truly pulls you in, and I love how easy it is to pick and choose topics that are in bite-sized chapters for you.
This was truly a joy to read, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking to deepen their faith, no matter what denomination you may be.
June 6, 2024
I found this book to be a very refreshing and beautiful reminder of why I love my Catholic faith. I am so excited to be confirmed into the Church on Easter Sunday, which is also my birthday, this upcoming Sunday, March 31st. I know that my life is worth living and I feel so thankful to know such an endlessly loving God. 🥰 “You would not be seeking God if you had not already in some way found him.” – Archbishop Fulton Sheen
October 25, 2024
Fantastic book, a real summary of Fulton Sheen's thoughts on most topics within the Catholic faith. He does well to guide you, in a very logical order, through all the fundamental topics of the faith, showing you how they all link together and how rich they are. He intersperses analogies from his life to drive points home and manages to keep things light whilst dealing with what can be heavy topics at times. Would highly recommend!
August 12, 2022
In my opinion this book was written through the heart and mind of Jesus Christ himself. Fulton Sheen is a fine example where i can hear God exclaim, “Well done, my faithful servant! Well done.”
I am rereading this book again and taking notes to be used for many book studies. A very well written book that gives a beautiful explanation of how God intended for us to live!
I am rereading this book again and taking notes to be used for many book studies. A very well written book that gives a beautiful explanation of how God intended for us to live!
September 18, 2022
I took a long time with this one, but it was definitely worth it. As a non-Catholic, I was introduced to concepts such as the Holy Communion, Purgatory, Saints, etc. The Commandment to love was the most profound and hard-hitting. This tome of the Archbishop’s life work was self-professed to be inadequate, but extremely enlightening to me in many ways.
January 27, 2022
This is a must read for all Catholics, new converts, those wanting to learn about Catholicism, and those who have fallen away. Fulton Sheens insights in this book have truly motivated me to want to reach heaven. I’ve learned so much and have a new love and appreciation for my Catholic faith.
July 30, 2025
Sheen's wisdom transcends time. Although heady, he offers excellent reflections on all aspects of Catholicism and provides great food for thought. I'm actually planning on using one of the chapters in my senior elective this year.
June 9, 2019
A fantastic and easy to read exposition of the Christian faith. Highly recommended.
December 1, 2019
In this you're getting a complete, hermetic system of traditionalist Catholic thought, with a focus on logic and reason. Sometimes that reason isn't perfect, but still. I enjoyed this a lot.
March 30, 2020
Even though it is from a Catholic perspective, it is relevant to all Christians. Sheen does a wonderful job explaining the essential truths of the faith.
November 24, 2021
A great apologetics book, though YMMV on the fact that it's transcribed.
December 21, 2022
Amazing insights
This book covers all, the Sacraments, commandments ,life as a Catholic . All with common sense and Love. It is a little dated in some respects
This book covers all, the Sacraments, commandments ,life as a Catholic . All with common sense and Love. It is a little dated in some respects
December 20, 2023
God bless Fulton Sheen!
June 6, 2025
A phenomenal tome; Archbishop Sheen is insightful, deep, but also personable.
October 17, 2025
Fulton Sheen is one of my favorite Bishops to listen to. This book was inspiring, and great at emphasizing the basic tenets of Christianity, that can get lost in everyday life.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews