Australian Church leaders have joined the global push for the canonization of U.S. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
Several bishops, including Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide,
president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, signed the
cover letter that Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, Ill., will present to
Pope Benedict XVI May 25 with the positio, two volumes that outline why the archbishop should be declared a saint.
Sydney Cardinal George Pell and Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart also
wrote separate letters to the Peoria-based Archbishop Fulton John Sheen
Foundation giving personal testimony to help the late TV evangelist’s
cause.
In Peoria, a spokeswoman for the foundation said more than 100
cardinals, archbishops and bishops from around the world had signed the
cover letters.
In his personal letter sent directly to the postulators of Archbishop
Sheen’s cause, Cardinal Pell said he admires what Archbishop Sheen did
as a catechist, in particular “his skill at harnessing the media to
present Catholic teaching in a compelling and faithful way.”
“I’m also impressed by the number of people from many walks of life
who have been moved by Archbishop Sheen’s example and teaching,” the
cardinal said.
“Archbishop Sheen had a gift for touching the lives of people in
enormously varied circumstances and states of life. This gift continues
to be evident through the inspiration his writings provide to people
today,” Cardinal Pell said.
In his letter, Archbishop Hart spoke of the profound influence the
late bishop had on his own life and vocation to the priesthood.
“As a small boy I remember the impression and the faith (Sheen)
created when visiting Melbourne in 1948 for the centenary of the
archdiocese,” Archbishop Hart said in his letter.
“My life has been profoundly touched by his stressing of a daily
Eucharistic Holy Hour, and I believe that the spiritual leadership which
he has provided is worthy of closer examination,” Archbishop Hart said.
“In far-off Australia we would support very much the moves in the
Church in the United States to promote (Sheen’s) cause for
beatification.”
“Clearly evident was his loyalty to the Church, passionate love of
God and devotion to Mary, our Blessed Mother. Even in the time of great
suffering, his deep, interior life transformed his life and ministry and
shone from all that he did,” the archbishop added.
Handing the positio to the pope marks the formal start of the
Vatican’s process to determine whether an individual should be
beatified, then canonized as a saint.
Before the archbishop can be beatified, his cause needs a miracle
attributed to his intercession.
The Vatican investigates the proposed
miracle separately from the positio.
Msgr. Stanley Deptula, executive director of the Sheen Foundation,
said the foundation believes a miracle has already been granted through
the intercession of the late bishop, but it would not release details,
as is usually the case when a miracle is under investigation.