The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation

MAIN OFFICE
P.O. Box 728
Peoria, IL 61652-0728
Phone: 309-671-1550 Ext. 249
Fax: 309-677-6798

OFFICE OF THE VICE-POSTULATOR
P.O. Box 1007
Yonkers, NY 10704-1007

Website: www.archbishopsheencause.org
Email: info@archbishopsheencause.org

ARTICLE:

THE CHAPLAIN CRISIS:
Why Are There So Few Military Chaplains?

Unfortunately, part of that price is the defense of our freedom from all forms of aggression, including violence, terrorism and war! The greatest part of this price is usually paid by the young men and women in our Armed Forces who unselfishly place themselves in “harm’s way” to protect the freedom and security we enjoy.

But added to the bodily dangers our soldiers encounter each day, we have abundant evidence that they also struggle with spiritual dangers that threaten them constantly. Separated from their families and loved ones, they are exposed to the temptations of drugs, alcohol, pornography, fornication and infidelity. They can echo St. Paul’s words: “Our battle is not {only} against human forces, but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above!” (Eph. 6:12).

Will you help us to arm our young men and women in the military with a powerful “weapon” for their daily “spiritual battles?” What is this powerful spiritual “weapon?” It is a precious book written by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen entitled, “FULTON SHEEN’S WARTIME PRAYER BOOK.”

This book was originally published by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in 1943 under the title, “The Armor of God.” At the time, our nation was involved in fighting World War II to preserve our freedoms against Communism, Nazism, and Fascism. The Archbishop was well aware of the moral and spiritual trials that surrounded our young military personnel. He knew the kind of spiritual help they needed, and he provided it for them with his usual inspiring and insightful message!

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM
JUDY MCCLOSKEY
PRESIDENT OF CATHOLICS IN THE MILITARY

Dear Friends of Fulton Sheen,

For over 3 years now, CatholicMil and the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation have been working together to help provide our military men and women with the sppiritual support they so desperately need.

Approximately 36% of the Armed Forces are Catholic, yet in today's global war against terrorism, there are less than 375 priests to serve them. During World War II, there were 3,220 priests ministering to our troops. Such startling
statistics identify the urgent call for the Fulton Sheen Wartime Prayer Book campaign.

I have personally heard from deployed chaplains all around the globe, stationed is such places are Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Germany and Bosnia, as well as from chaplains stationed right here in the United States. All express their tremendous gratitude to you who support this program!

Remarkably, through these timeless Wartime Prayer Books, soldiers and sailors who are brave enough to defend us from terrorism, admit sometimes that they are "afraid to go to confession". Fulton Sheen is bringing them
back to the sacraments!

Also, there is now Eucharistic adoration in Iraq, thanks to our American Catholic soldiers and chaplains, and Fulton Sheen books are there!

Good things are happening in our military, thanks to God, the American soldier, Fulton Sheen and YOU!

Please give as generously as you can to support our troops!

The original book was recently reprinted by Sophia Institute Press under its new title. Though very compact, the book contains chapters of thought-provoking meditations on such vital topics as thoughts in wartime, thoughts for soldiers, encouragement, prayer, the Eucharist, and the Blessed Mother.

Some of the devotional prayers he has included are basic prayers, morning and evening prayers, occasional prayers and the Stations of the Cross.

As part of our promotion of the Cause of Canonization of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation wants to make a copy of FULTON SHEEN’S WARTIME PRAYER BOOK available free of charge to as many Catholic (and even those non-Catholics who may want it) men and women in our armed forces as possible! Our goal is to distribute at least 100,000 of these wonderful books to our brave men and women in the armed forces every year.

How can you help? The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation has partnered with Sophia Institute Press to make these books available at very low price. For every $3.50 donation a military man or woman will receive one of these beautiful prayer books. In addition, your donation will allow the Sheen Foundation to continue its important work towards the canonization of this great man while making his writings and teachings more easily accessible to a whole new generation within the Church.

We are confident that these books will be very welcome! They will no doubt introduce many young people to the wisdom and holiness of the Servant of God, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. I am sure for many of them it will be the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

Through the help of a priest-friend, a former marine helicopter pilot, the Sheen Foundation has already contacted the chaplains at the various military academies. The response has been overwhelming! At the Army, Naval, and Air Force Academies, each chaplain asked for 1,000 copies of the prayer book immediately, and in Iraq there is an immediate need for 50,000 Wartime Prayer Books.

Judy McCloskey
Founder, www.CatholicMil.org

Won’t you help us to help these young men and women in the military?

These brave soldiers are putting themselves into “harms way” for our sakes! Can’t we at least support them with an important weapon for the spiritual arsenal they need to fight the greater battle for eternal life?

May God reward your kindness,

Father Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R.
Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Canonization
of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT:
www.WartimePrayerBook.org

OR WRITE TO US AT:
Info@WartimePrayerBook.org