Staff Reports
The Vatican’s declaration that Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is now “Blessed” is more than church business. It was a loud reminder that a plainspoken, media-savvy preacher can still move a crowd — and that America desperately needs voices that tell people life is worth living, not that it is negotiable. The beatification in St. Louis was a show of force from faithful young people and older believers alike, and it should make anyone who cares about culture sit up straight.
Fulton Sheen beatification: a media evangelist reborn
Sheen was a pioneer of religious broadcasting. His show Life Is Worth Living reached millions in the 1950s. He used a chalkboard, charm, and plain talk to win hearts. This week’s beatification reminded the country that media matters for faith. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle represented Pope Leo XIV at the Mass in St. Louis, unveiling Sheen’s portrait and relics. Tens of thousands came. That turnout was not a sleepy ritual — it was a cultural moment.
The miracle that cleared the way and the messy road here
The miracle that advanced Sheen’s cause involved the unexplained recovery of a newborn, James Fulton Engstrom, who was revived after showing no detectable pulse. The Church investigated and accepted it. Still, this beatification was not a straight line. The cause hit bumps, including a pause after some U.S. bishops asked for further review and a public dispute over his remains. Those delays were unnecessary theater. The faithful moved past it and showed up anyway.
Why this matters for evangelization and culture wars
Sheen was a tough critic of totalitarian ideologies and a friend to the poor. He used the new tools of his time — radio and TV — to preach with clarity. Today’s culture is awash in moral fuzziness and cheap answers. Seeing young priests in cassocks and thousands of young people at the Mass was not nostalgia. It was proof that clear moral leadership still attracts. Even the White House issued a message praising Sheen’s ability to use media to reach souls. That’s a sign the moment has political and cultural weight.
Beatification is not the final stop. Canonization will require another miracle and more scrutiny. But for conservatives who care about faith, family, and public decency, Blessed Fulton Sheen’s revival is a welcome shot in the arm. He reminds us that serious ideas can be popular, that masculine dignity and formal faith still matter, and that the battle for the soul of the West is fought person by person. If you want to change culture, start by speaking plainly — and bring a chalkboard.
