Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was called "the kind of saint America needs today" during Feb. 3 ceremonies closing the diocesan phase of the famed media evangelist's sainthood cause.At the cathedral where he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria nearly nine decades ago, more than 1,000 people -- including about 60 relatives -- gathered for a Mass of thanksgiving marking the end of five years of preliminary research into Archbishop Sheen's life and virtues.
A prolific writer and gifted orator born in nearby El Paso, Ill., Archbishop Sheen eventually left his central Illinois roots and became known nationwide as the host of pioneering radio and television programs, including "The Catholic Hour" and "Life Is Worth Living."
The latter was a television series that aired from 1951 to 1957 and attracted an estimated 30 million weekly viewers.
Archbishop Sheen received an Emmy Award as television's "Most Outstanding Personality" in 1952.
"He was the voice of the Catholic Church in America for almost 30 years," said Father Andrew Apostoli, homilist at the Mass. A New York Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, he is vice postulator of Archbishop Sheen's cause.
Nearly three decades after his death, the continuing popularity and relevancy of Archbishop Sheen's books and videos make him "still very much a voice in the church today," said Father Apostoli.
Prior to and during the two-hour liturgy, documents including studies of Archbishop Sheen's many writings as well as testimonies of witnesses who knew him were boxed, notarized and sealed for personal delivery to the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes.
The boxes of evidence filled a large wooden crate in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.
Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria -- who petitioned the Vatican to open Archbishop Sheen's sainthood cause Sept. 9, 2002 -- formally closed the crate by tying it with ribbon and affixing the diocesan seal in red wax.
The documents will be delivered to the Vatican by Andrea Ambrosi of Rome, postulator for the cause.
"May God who has begun this good work bring it to completion," said Bishop Jenky after Patricia Gibson, diocesan chancellor and chief notary of the cause, completed the public reading of the legal directives.
The crowd that filled the cathedral showed its agreement and affection for Archbishop Sheen by responding with two minutes of sustained applause.
The Mass was broadcast live on the Eternal Word Television Network.
"This Sunday many eyes in America are focused on Phoenix, Ariz., and the Super Bowl," said Bishop Jenky, who was principal celebrant of the Mass.
"But in this diocese, and in the church throughout the world," he continued, "today is a special day of thanksgiving" as Archbishop Sheen's sainthood cause moves to Rome and the next phase of discernment.
Concelebrants included retired Auxiliary Bishop Roger L. Kaffer of Joliet; Bishop John M. Kudrick of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Ohio; Father Apostoli; Msgr. Richard Soseman, episcopal delegate to the cause; and about 25 priests of the Peoria Diocese.
The Vatican opened Archbishop Sheen's sainthood cause Sept. 14, 2003, bestowing on him the title servant of God. In July 2006, the documentation of two alleged miracles through his intercession -- one from the Peoria Diocese and one from the Pittsburgh Diocese -- were sent to Rome.
If the Congregation for Saints' Causes makes a declaration of the archbishop's heroic virtues, the church will give him the title venerable.
The next step is beatification, after which he would be called blessed; this step requires certification of a miracle attributed to his intercession. The final step is canonization, which requires certification of a second miracle attributed to him and occurring after his beatification.
Father Apostoli's homily traced the late archbishop's story of faith. "God gifted him with great intellectual ability, and he used that to be committed to the truth," he said of Archbishop Sheen, a former bishop of Rochester, N.Y., who raised millions of dollars for missionary efforts as national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for 16 years.
Archbishop Sheen was "a great teacher of Catholic doctrine, a great defender of the faith" who loved Jesus in the Eucharist, had a strong devotion to Mary, and guided many into the Catholic faith, including celebrities such as Claire Booth Luce and Henry Ford II, the priest said.
"But his love of the poor was also tremendous," said Father Apostoli, noting Archbishop Sheen "could get along with presidents and popes yet he could deal with the little guy."
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