How You Can Help the Cause

Here Are Some Ways You Can Help:

1. PRAY FOR HIS CANONIZATION

Only God can bring about the canonization of a saint. As St. Anthony of Padua once put it, “Saints are like the stars: they shine when God wants them to!” Every newly canonized saint is a great gift of grace to the Catholic Church and the world. But God wants us to ask Him for this grace. This is why all the prayers petitioning Almighty God to raise His servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, to the honor of the altar becomes a powerful spiritual force that will move the Heart of God to grant the fervent request of His People.

When you pray, you may wish to use the following prayer written by Vice-Postulator, Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R., and approved by sponsoring bishop, Bishop Daniel Jenky, C.S.C.:

Prayer for the Canonization of the Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Heavenly Father, source of all holiness, You raise up within the Church in every age men and women who serve with heroic love and dedication. You have blessed Your Church through the life and ministry of Your faithful servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. He has written and spoken well of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and was a true instrument of the Holy Spirit in touching the hearts of countless people.

If it be according to Your Will, for the honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity and for the salvation of souls, we ask You to move the Church to proclaim him a saint. We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

2. PRAY FOR FAVORS THROUGH HIS INTERCESSION

When God wants to glorify one of His servants for Sainthood, He grants many favors through his or her intercession. These favors may be in the form of physical or emotional healings, resolving of family difficulties, spiritual conversions or help in special needs such as finding a job or buying a home. Again, we have to ask God in prayer for these favors through the Archbishop's intercession. We may want to use the prayer below:

Prayer to Obtain a Favor Through the Intercession of the Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Eternal Father, You alone grant us every blessing in Heaven and on earth, through the redemptive mission of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and by the working of the Holy Spirit. If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, by granting the favor I now request through his prayerful intercession (mention your request). I make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

3. NOTIFY US ABOUT ANY FAVORS RECEIVED

If someone feels that he or she has received a favor, big or small, through the late Archbishop's intercession, please notify the Archbishop Sheen Foundation so that a complete record of these favors recieved may be kept.

4. THE FOUNDATION WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO HAS ANY PERSONAL TESTIMONY ABOUT THE ARCHBISHOP'S LIFE AND PRACTICE OF HEROIC VIRTUES

The Archbishop affected countless people in his own lifetime. He corresponded with many people, and shared significant events in other people's lives (e.g. performed marriage or baptism). We are looking for people who can give personal witness to the Archbishop's sanctity, or share copies of correspondence they may have received from him. The Foundation is responsible for gathering all of the Archbishop's writings, published and non-published, for review during the Canonization process. If you or someone you know can share a testimony and/or a correspondence from the Archbishop, please contact the Archbishop Sheen Foundation..

5. JOIN THE ARCHBISHOP SHEEN PRAYER LEAGUE

The Foundation has begun a Prayer League to connect friends of the Archbishop in the United States and throughout the world. These friends can help by praying, distributing literature and publicizing events of special importance in their local areas (e.g. special talk by a Foundation member). They can also assist with financial support for the Cause. These friends of the Archbishop will share in various spiritual benefits of the Archbishop Sheen Foundation, such as being remembered in monthly Masses.

6. BECOME A BENEFACTOR

Even though only God in Heaven can make saints, they can only be proclaimed saints officially by the Holy Father. The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation must gather all the necessary testimony and other evidence (e.g. medical reports, documents) then it must be submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints in Rome. This will require the expertise of theologians, stenographers, canon lawyers, judges, notaries, and the like, because the gathering of this evidence is much like the working of a trial in court. This is a long and very expensive process. If the Foundation is to carry out its work properly, we need the financial support of our benefactors. Whatever contribution can be made, little or big, is appreciated and helps our Cause.

7. PROMOTE THE WARTIME PRAYERBOOK CAMPAIGN

The Wartime Prayer Book Campaign has been the main fund-raising campaign of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation since 2004. The goal of this project is to distribute 100,000 copies of Archbishop Sheen’s Wartime Prayer Book to our military chaplains and troops overseas. This not only helps to make Bishop Sheen’s writings more well-known to a new generation of Catholics, but it also helps to provide the much needed spiritual help that our soldiers need in our earthly battlefields. This effort also helps to raise funds that go directly towards paying off the expenses that come with the canonization process. Please visit: www.WartimePrayerBook.org for more information.