In the early 1950’s, the
face and voice of a Catholic bishop became world-famous on television. Bishop Fulton Sheen’s show, Life is Worth Living, aired at prime
time on Tuesday evenings and was constantly gaining popularity. How was it that a priest who gave
twenty-minute talks on religion was able to gain such a vast audience? While Fulton Sheen’s winning personality and
his natural speaking talent contributed much to his success, the bishop himself
attributed all his success to God. 
Even though he was airing the same time as Texaco Star Theater, the most popular
vaudevillian show of the time, and CBS’ Frank Sinatra, Bishop Sheen put up a
strong competition with his engaging manner and the truth that he taught. “The secret of Archbishop Sheen’s power was
his combination of an educated and thinking head with a generous and feeling
heart.”[1] Sheen did not talk down to his audience nor
did he talk over their heads.[2] His talks were very conversational and
engaging, always flavored with humor.
Sheen would often begin with jokes, knowing that humor was a good way to
keep the audience engaged. One joke
characteristic of Life is Worth Living
was his story about his Angel and the blackboard. Sheen would often write on a blackboard,
which would be erased by off-screen stage hands. Because the audience could not see it being
erased, Sheen would tease that it was his Guardian Angel, named Skippy, who
erased it.[3] In 1952, the very same year he started the
show, Bishop Sheen won an Emmy Award, beating out other famous nominees such as
Lucille Ball, Edward Murrow, and Jimmy Durante.[4] Even though he was a Catholic bishop speaking
about the Faith, Sheen was widely successful on television with thousands of
viewers of all different religions, because he “presented the Christian Gospel
in a manner nearly impossible to reject.”[5] 
Although Sheen was an incredibly
talented speaker, he did not attribute any of his success to himself, but
entirely to God. Every day of his life,
Fulton Sheen religiously kept a Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. This was where he received inspiration for
his talks.[6] Also, five minutes before he was about to go
on set, Sheen would stop everything to spend a few minutes in prayer, once
remarking, “[o]n television, I depend more on the grace of God and less on
myself.”[7] Another trademark of Sheen’s show was the
“JMJ” he always wrote at the top of his blackboard, calling on the Holy Family
to bless his work.[8] When Sheen won his Emmy Award, he was
embarrassed, yet lightened the situation, by giving thanks to his four writers,
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.[9] Sheen meant more here than a simple joke; he
was stating that he merely preached the Gospel of Christ and that any
conversions he won were because souls were attracted to the true Word of God. Sheen did not allow his enormous success and
countless conversions to get to his head.
When asked how many converts he had made, he replied, “I have never
counted them. I am afraid that if I did
count them, I might think I made them, instead of the Lord.”[10]
Bishop Sheen was able to bring so many souls to Christ because he not only preached the truth, but he also lived the truth he taught. What made Fulton Sheen so endearing and effective
among his audiences was the
personal holiness of Sheen's life, reflected in his
writings, talks and tapes. No one could speak in such depth of spirituality and
have such a profound effect on people of all walks of life and of all ages
without being a very holy person. Closeness to God makes one a greater
instrument of [H]is grace to others.[11]
The world today needs
evangelists of Sheen’s caliber. In this
age of technology and media, Fulton Sheen gives an example of how to use
technology to evangelize to the world. Sheen was able to teach in a way that was attractive
and effective, by unashamedly teaching Christ crucified and His Gospel, by the
example of his holy life, and by placing all trust of success in God.
[1] Patricia A. Kossmann, “Remembering
Fulton Sheen,” America 191, no 18 (6
Dec 2004), 8-10.
[2] Janel Rodriguez, Meet Fulton Sheen, (Cincinnati, OH:
Franciscan Media, 2006), 48.
[3] Rodriguez, Meet Fulton Sheen, 50.
[4] Rodriguez, Meet Fulton Sheen, 52.
[5] Paul Kengor, “Fulton J. Sheen in
Word and Deed,” National Catholic
Reporter 41, no 10 (7 Jan 2005), 19.
[6] Rodriguez, Meet Fulton Sheen, 28.
[7] Rodriguez, Meet Fulton Sheen, 47.
[8] Rodriguez, Meet Fulton Sheen, 48.
[9] Rodriguez, Meet Fulton Sheen, 52.
[10] Monica A. Yehle, “Love for the
Church and Mission: Archbishop Sheen’s Priestly Service,” The Priest 65, no 10 (10 Oct 2009), 14-19.
[11] Andrew Apostoli in Kossmann,
“Remembering Fulton Sheen.”
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