Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was a universally popular evangelist, radio/TV personality, writer and missionary. He is most known for his television series, “Life is Worth Living” which had a viewing audience of over 30 million people.
“Life is Worth Living”
Artwork by Greg Hildebrandt
World Mission Rosary
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was also national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966. In February 1951, he inaugurated a World Mission Rosary during his radio address, The Catholic Hour. “We must pray, and not for ourselves, but for the world,” he exhorted. “To this end, I have designed the World Mission Rosary.” Praying this Rosary, Archbishop Sheen said, would “aid the Holy Father and his Society for the Propagation of the Faith by supplying him with practical support, as well as prayers, for the poor mission territories of the world.”
Each decade of that World Mission Rosary calls to mind an area where the Church continues her evangelizing mission: green for the forests and grasslands of Africa; blue for the ocean surrounding the islands of the Pacific; white symbolizing Europe, the seat of the Holy Father, shepherd of the world; red calling to mind the fire of faith that brought missionaries to the Americas, and yellow, the morning light of the east, for Asia. Archbishop Sheen said, “Peace will come only when the hearts of the world have changed. When the World Mission Rosary is completed, one has embraced all continents, all people in prayer.”
Officially opened on September 14, 2002, the cause for canonization of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen made major progress in 2012 when two alleged miracles credited to his intercession were sent to Rome for further investigation.
On June 28, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI declared Archbishop Sheen “Venerable,” clearing the way for the advancement of his sainthood cause. On July 6, 2019, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had approved a miracle attributed to Sheen’s intercession, allowing Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen to be beatified.
Download a pamphlet of the World Missions Rosary mysteries, or contact the Diocesan Missions Office for a copy.
Prayer for Canonization
Prayer to Move the Church to Proclaim Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen a Saint
Heavenly Father, source of all good and all holiness, You reward those who love and serve You faithfully as Your sons and daughters. If it pleases You, I ask You to glorify Your servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. He touched countless lives by his ministry of evangelization, especially through the media. His clear and courageous teachings about Jesus and the truths of the Catholic Church seemed to possess a special power of the Holy Spirit that strengthened the faithful and inspired many converts to embrace the faith. He supported the needs of missionaries all over the world through his work in the National Office for the Propagation of the Faith. He also labored zealously for the renewal of the priesthood by preaching retreats to his brother priests and by encouraging them with the good example of his daily Eucharistic Holy Hour. His deep personal love of Our Lady moved many others to go to Jesus through His Mother. Heavenly Father, if it be according to Your Divine Will, I ask you to move Your Church to glorify Your faithful servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. I ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen
