Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the beloved television catechist during the 1950s and 60s in the United States is being beatified today, in Peoria Illinois by Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines, representing Pope Leo XIV. His Emmy-award winning television show “Life is Worth Living” reached an audience of millions throughout the USA, and tapes of his speeches are still available on social media and YouTube. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois at the age of 24 on September 20, 1919, and was appointed auxiliary bishop of New York in 1951, where he remained until his appointment as Bishop of Rochester, New York in 1966. He retired in 1969 and moved back to New York City until his death in 1979. Sheen’s remains were transferred from the Archdiocese of New York to Peoria, Illinois following a long legal battle over the late archbishop's burial place that had put Sheen's sainthood cause on hold. The Peoria diocese opened the cause for Sheen’s canonization in 2002, and 10 years later, in 2012, Benedict XVI recognized the heroic virtues of the archbishop. Sheen wrote close to 90 books, and is well known for his sermons, especially the 3-hour Good Friday sermons he did in St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. His time slot on TV clashed with other programs but most people preferred to listen to him rather than other shows. When he received an Emmy Award for his shows, he thanked his scriptwriters, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
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