Writings of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
from various sources
A couple of months before his Death, Bishop Fulton J.
Sheen was interviewed on National Television. One of the questions was this:
"Bishop Sheen, you have inspired Millions of People all over the World.
Who inspired you? Was it a Pope?"
Bishop Sheen responded that it was not a Pope, a Cardinal, another Bishop, or even a Priest
or a Nun. It was a little Chinese girl of Eleven (11) Years of Age. He
explained that when the Communists took over China, they imprisoned a
Priest in his own Rectory near the Church. After they locked him up in his own house, the
Priest was Horrified to look out of his window and see the
Communists proceed into the Church, where they went into the
Sanctuary and broke into the Tabernacle. In
an Act of Hateful Desecration, they took the
Ciborium and threw it on the floor with all of the Sacred Hosts spilling
out. The Priest knew exactly how many Hosts were in the
Ciborium: Thirty-Two (32).
When the Communists left, they either did not notice, or didn't pay any
attention to a small girl Praying in the back of the
Church who saw everything that had happened. That night the little girl came back. Slipping past the guard at the
Priest's house, she went inside the Church. There she made a
Holy Hour of Prayer, an Act of Love to make up for the
Act of Hatred.
After her Holy Hour she went into the Sanctuary,
knelt down, bent over and with her tongue received Jesus in
Holy Communion, since it was not permissible for laymen to touch the Sacred
Host with their hands.
The little girl continued to come back each night to make her Holy Hour
and receive Jesus in Holy Communion on her
tongue. On the Thirty-Second night, after she had consumed the
Last and Thirty-Second
Host, she accidentally made a noise and woke the guard who was sleeping. He ran after her, caught her, and beat her to
Death with the butt of his rifle. This Act of
Heroic Martyrdom was witnessed by the Priest as he watched
Grief-Stricken from his bedroom window.
When Bishop Sheen heard the story he was so inspired that he promised
God he would make a Holy Hour of Prayer before
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament everyday of his life. If this frail,
little child could give Testimony and Witness to the World concerning the real and wonderful
Presence of her Savior in the Blessed
Sacrament, then the Bishop was absolutely-bound by all that was Right and True, to do the same. His
sole desire from then on was to bring the World to the burning Heart of Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament.
The little girl showed the Bishop what True Courage and
Zeal really is; how Faith could overcome all
Fear, how True Love for Jesus
in the Eucharist must transcend life itself. What is
Hidden in the Sacred Host is the
Glory of His Love. The Sun in the sky
is Symbolic of the Son of God in the Blessed Sacrament.
This is why most Monstrances are in the form of a Sunburst. As the Sun is
the Natural Source of all Energy, the Blessed Sacrament is the
Supernatural Source of all Grace and
Love. The Blessed Sacrament is
JESUS, the Light of the World.
Prayer for the Intercession of
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
+
JMJ
Eternal Father, You alone grant us every Blessing in Heaven and
on Earth, through the Redemptive Mission of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, by the working
of the Holy Spirit. In every age, You raise up men and women outstanding in
Holiness, whose Faithful Service has contributed significantly to the Mission of the
Church. In this very way, You used the life and work of Your Servant, Archbishop
Fulton John Sheen. He inspired great numbers of Catholics and other people of good
will to grow in Virtue and lead lives pleasing to You and of service to their brothers and
sisters in need. He encouraged them to embrace the 'Gospel of Life' by recognizing
that in all its circumstances, 'Life is worth living'.
If it be according to Your Will, Eternal Father, glorify Your Servant,
Archbishop Fulton John Sheen, by granting the favor I now request through his Prayerful Intercession.
(mention your request)
I make this Prayer confidently in Jesus' Name, through the
Merits of His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
Amen
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