Lent and Easter Wisdom From Fulton J. Sheen

by Fulton J. Sheen

Timeless words from the pen of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen inspire the heart and imagination as readers embark on a Lenten journey toward a better understanding of their spiritual selves. Covering the traditional themes of Lent--sin and salvation, death and Resurrection, sorrow and hope, ashes and lilies--these 50 passages and accompanying mini-prayers offer readers a practical spiritual program as a retreat from the cares and concerns of a secular world view.

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"Paperback"

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Christian, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2003

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

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this has simply been the readings from Fulton Sheen along with the scriptures, I would've given it 5 stars. However, I found a lot of the paired reflections by the author to be lacking in depth and substance, and sometimes even just overtly weird. Just read Fulton Sheen instead.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely Lent devotional! I love the way Sheen expresses himself!

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice Lenten devotional to read with my husband. It opened a door to Sheen for him. We will be reading more Sheen together.

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

My Lenten reading this year.

Thus there emerges the Easter lesson that the power of evil and the chaos of any one moment can be defied and conquered, for the basis of our hope is not in any construct of human power but in the power of God, who has given to the evil of this earth its one mortal wound - an open tomb, a gaping sepulcher, an empty grave. -Fulton J. Sheen, Cross-Ways

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Lenten devotional I’ve ever read, hands down! Incredibly inspiring as well as educational!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! Cardinal Sheen is as relevant today as he was in his time. Very nice short but packed Lenten reflections. I do this every Lent

[Susan Eberhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read for Lent and Easter week, with short, two page reading, reflection, and suggestion for action for each day.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never tire of reading Venerable Fulton Sheen's quotes. This was the perfect Lent/Easter read.