Archbishop Fulton Sheen: Meeting God Face To Face In The Blessed Sacrament

"All my sermons are prepared in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. As recreation is most pleasant and profitable in the sun, so homiletic creativity is best nourished before the Eucharist. The most brilliant ideas come from meeting God face to face. The Holy Spirit that presided at the Incarnation is the best atmosphere for illumination. Pope John Paul II keeps a small desk or writing pad near him whenever he is in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament; and I have done this all my life — I am sure for the same reason he does, because a lover always works better when the beloved is with him."

—Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Archbishop Sheen is my buddy; there, I've said it! And he loved the Little Flower to boot! I've downloaded every radio talk of his onto my iPod. I had to have them all. His wisdom is still very relevant today.

I pray for the cause of Sheen's canonization and I ask for his prayers and intercession. He was a brilliant, humble soul.

If you haven't heard him in awhile— or ever— I encourage you to start today. This man never missed a holy hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. He called it his "power hour." He even died while in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament! I thought of him today while at Eucharistic Adoration: the first time my parish has had Adoration in many years. What a wonderful day it was at my parish when the monstrance was brought out and reverently displayed on the altar!

second photo copyright Joseph Karl Publishing, 2011