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*** This a reprint from 30 November 2020
This post is only more relevant now and every day from here on out.
If there is one American saintly leader whom the United States needs to intercede and guide us to save our republic, it is Venerable Fulton J. Sheen. He was one of the greatest patriots of the 20th century and he foresaw with stunning clarity this very moment in history 80 years ago. He always knew and feared, like Abraham Lincoln, that if America was ever to fall, it would happen from within due to moral decay and abandonment of the Christian moral principles which made it a great light to the world.
80 years ago, Fulton Sheen said, "We are living in the days of the apocalypse, the last days of our era . . . the two great forces of the Mystical Body of Christ and the Mystical Body of Antichrist are beginning to draw up the battle lines for the catastrophic contest."
I just wrapped up what is perhaps the most important course I have taught in many years, put in presentation form, that unpacks everything we are facing right now, how Sheen foresaw it and what he saw as the way to save America. It's called "The Final Hour: Fulton Sheen's Plan to Save America . . . and the World." Check it out now, especially with a great discount for this Advent season. It should be in every home's formation line-up to understand and respond to the signs of our times. Learn more here.
We are now at the height of that battle and America is about to fall and collapse like Rome or rise to lead the world back to God, back to purity and through both to true freedom. There is no middle to this battle. It is good versus evil and it is like the battle of the five armies from Tolkien's mythological world of middle-earth. The parallels are striking.
It is no coincidence that two years ago, the Congregation of saints chose December 9 to be the feast day of what should now be "Blessed Fulton Sheen."That day will come, but the Holy Spirit already let us in on the connection He desired us to make.
December 9 has three monumental significances. First it is the original day of the feast of the Immaculate Conception dating back to the early centuries of the Church of the East (Mary as the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the United States). Second, it is the day Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in the geographic center of the Americas at Tepeyac Hill to conquer a Satanic culture of death proven to be impossible to convert by the Church's missionaries at the time. Third, it is the day Fulton Sheen was preordained to enter into his heavenly reward -- fulfilling a wish of his to die in front of the Blessed Sacrament on a feast day of Our Lady.
What is the wisdom of this convergence? I'll elaborate more as we approach that date. But I will say this . . . Fulton Sheen was the saint chosen for this moment in America's history to guide and inspire us to the kind of saints we are called to be right now. And we HAVE to be a saint now if we want to endure what is right before us.
In the meantime, here is the best way to prepare for the mysteries we will contemplate and enter into in 9 days, with Fulton Sheen now inextricably tied into them. As Fulton Sheen said, "God does not do anything in history without the greatest finesse of detail."
Let us pray for Venerable Fulton Sheen's intercession and guidance on how to save America from the vultures tearing apart its rotting parts. And let us ask him to show us the path to be the greatest possible saints America and the world need to lead them back to God.
Day 1 (Dec 1)
How God will judge my life I know not, but I trust he will see me with mercy and compassion. I am only certain there will be three surprises in Heaven. First of all, I will see some people whom I never expected to see. Second, there will be a number whom I expect who will not be there. And – even relying on God’s mercy – the biggest surprise of all may be that I will be there. When the record of any human life is set down, there are three pairs of eyes who see it in a different light. 1. As I see it. 2. As others see it. 3. As God sees it.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, help us to focus on You as Fulton Sheen did so that we may be humble when looking upon ourselves, so that others will see You when they look upon us, and so we can see our lives as You see it.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
Day 2 (Dec 2)
Protestants, Jews and Catholics have God, morality, and religion in common. In the name of God, let us – Jews, Protestants, and Catholics – do two things: 1. Realize that an attack upon one is an attack upon all, since we are all one in God; it is not tolerance we need, but charity; not forbearance but love. 2. Begin doing something about religion, and the least we can do is say our prayers; to implore God’s blessings upon the world and our country; to thank Him for his blessings; and to become illumined in the fullness of His truth. There is entirely too much talk about religion and not enough action.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, Fulton Sheen reached out to people of every religion. Help us to see others as You see them and to focus on what we have in common instead of our differences.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
Day 3 (Dec 3)
In every friendship hearts grow and entwine themselves together, so that the two hearts seem to make only one heart with only a common thought. That is why separation is so painful; it is not so much two hearts separating, but one being torn asunder.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, help me to see you in others like Fulton Sheen did so I can become one with them as we will all be one in heaven. Help me to realize that separation from You means an empty heart for me.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
Day 4 (Dec 4)
The great tragedy of life is not so much what men have suffered, but what they have missed. And what greater tragedy is there than to miss the peace of sin forgiven? There is not a man living who, if he willed it, could not enjoy the spiritual food and drink which God serves to all who ask.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, Fulton Sheen led so many to peace of soul by introducing them to your forgiveness. Help us to share your gift of peace to others by introducing them to Your true loving forgiveness and gift of confession. Help us to learn to ask for the food and drink we truly need.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
Day 5 (Dec 5)
All love on this earth involves choice. When, for example, a young man expresses his love to a young woman and asks her to become his wife, he is not just making an affirmation of love; he is also negating his love for anyone else. In that one act by which he chooses her, he rejects all that is not her. There is no other real way in which to prove we love a thing than by choosing it in preference to something else. Words and sighs of love may be, and often are, expressions of egotism or passion; but deeds are proofs of love. We can prove we love our Lord only by choosing Him in preference to anything else.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, Fulton Sheen loved you above all things. Help us to choose to put you first in our lives so we can learn what true love is.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
Day 6 (Dec 6)
Burning the candle at both ends for God’s sake may be foolishness to the world, but it is a profitable Christian exercise for so much better the light! Only one thing in life matters: Being found worthy of the Light of the World in the hour of His visitation. We need have no undue fear for our health if we work hard for the Kingdom of God; God will take care of our health if we take care of His cause. In any case, it is better to burn out than to rust out.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, even when tired and sick Fulton Sheen worked unceasingly for your cause. Help us to learn how to tirelessly work for You through Fulton Sheen. Help us to know that there is no rest unless it is in You.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
Day 7 (Dec 7)
Mary is not only mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but she is also our mother, and this is not by a title of courtesy, not by legal fiction, not by a mere figure of speech, but by the right of bringing us forth in sorrow at the foot of the cross. Mary, by sacrifice and obedience, regained for us the title, Mother of the living. What a destiny to have the Mother of God as my Mother and Jesus as my brother.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, Fulton Sheen learned obedience at the school of Mary. He had such a great relationship with her. He knew that when he went before the judgment seat of Christ You would say “I heard My mother speak of you.” Help us to better know Mary so we may gain insight into such great obedience, love, faith and hope.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
Day 8 (Dec 8)
If we followed the same rules for health that we do about religion, we would all be bedridden. It is not enough to talk about the necessity of health; we must do something practical about it – for example, eat, exercise, and rest. So it is with religion. We must nourish ourselves with the truths of God, exercise our spiritual muscles in prayer, mortify ourselves of those things which are harmful to the soul, and be just as scrupulous in avoiding moral evil as we are in avoiding physical evil.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, Fulton Sheen did not ask others to go to confession or visit our Lord an hour a day without doing it himself. He practiced what he preached. Guard us from hypocrisy and help us to lead others to you through our actions.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
Day 9 (Dec 9)
The better we become, the less conscious we are of our goodness. If anyone admits to being a saint, he is close to being a devil. Jean Jacques Rousseau believed that of all men, he was the most perfect, but he had so many cracks in his soul that he abandoned his children after their birth. The more saintly we become, the less conscious we are of being holy. A child is cute so long as he does not know that he is cute. As soon as he thinks he is, he turns into a brat. True goodness is unconscious.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Lord, Fulton Sheen always thought of himself as an unworthy servant and never thought himself a saint. Help us to be humble in our service and to realize as Fulton Sheen realized that all good works come from You. Prayer of Canonization (see below), Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF VENERABLE 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.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
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