Supporting the Canonization Cause for Servant of God, Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Posted by: andymcnutt in Awesome Priests and Bishops, conversion stories, tags: archbishop fulton j sheen, canonization cause, catholic convert, conversion, convert, fulton j. sheen, fulton sheen, life is worth living, self control, self sacrifice, servant of god
I wish I knew more about Archbishop Sheen's personal life. No doubt, there are numerous biographical books I can get my hands on. For now, however, I am absorbed in the man's sermons and books. He has been such a tremendous help to me in my own continuing conversion and relationship with Christ. And I ask for the continuous intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, as I know from my reading that he was a tremendous prayer warrior as a pilgrim on this earth. His prayer strength has certainly not diminished now that he is before the very throne of the One who saves us. He can only have become even more effective in his prayers to God.
Why this man? Why not some other already canonized saint? Listen, I've got loads of saints as examples, mentors, and teachers. They show me it is possible to live for Christ amid difficulty and selfishness. Archbishop Fulton Sheen stands out, however. From the first time I saw him on television, it has been as though he was talking directly to me, as if he could read my very soul. I found myself listening to his sermons more and more. Now, I'm reading books, and it is here that I am beginning to see major transformation.
And it's not that Archbishop Sheen is telling me something I haven't heard before. In fact, I've taught the very things I'm reading. How is it that now, in 2008, these words are piercing my heart? Perhaps now my heart is ready to receive. The timing of God is impeccable, though I am grossly late in my spiritual time table. Far too many years have been spent "coasting" and exchanging intellectual stimulation for spiritual growth. The heart was never meant to be separated from the intellect. Faith and reason must work hand in hand.
As I read though my latest Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen book, The Way to Happiness, I am struck dumb by the wisdom of God. Why is it that such simple principles can be so difficult to put into practice? The reality of sin and a humanity weakened by its own concupiscence. Many are ready to die a martyr's death, but very few are willing to live a life of quiet, attentionless, self-sacrifice. Yet that is what we are called to do. I would prefer to be recognized in my struggles, or sacrifices. I would prefer to be noticed. I would prefer to have my ego boosted. This is not right. The real conversion takes place when nobody knows, sees, or cares about your sacrifice. Only God sees. No human reward. No human empathy. No attention. Just sacrifice, given out of a pure love, because love does what it does not for show but for love's sake.
May we all swallow the bitter pill of our pride and give ourselves totally to God by loving our neighbor. And may God transform our hard hearts to be like His own.
