The Catholic Church’s newest Beatus

Before he was known as Blessed Fulton Sheen, the famous archbishop traveled the world as the National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. His mission was to support the global Church, but one profound encounter in Buluba, Uganda, changed his life forever.

While visiting a local leprosy center that housed over 500 patients, Archbishop Sheen brought along small silver crosses to distribute as gifts. As the residents gathered around, he came face-to-face with a man whose lower arm and hand had been severely disfigured by the disease.

As Sheen tried to hand him a crucifix, it slipped and fell directly onto the man’s damaged flesh.
Instinctively, Sheen reacted with fear but in that exact moment, a wave of grace hit him. He realised that in avoiding this man’s brokenness, he was turning away from Christ Himself. Overcoming his fear, Sheen reached down, took the crucifix from the man’s arm, and embraced him.

Archbishop Sheen later reflected that this single moment in Uganda was a turning point in his spiritual life. It taught him that we cannot truly love Christ unless we are willing to touch His wounds in the poor, the sick, and the forgotten.

We thank God for gifting the Church with the life and legacy of Blessed Fulton Sheen. His journey reminds us that God’s mercy is not a distant concept, but a tangible love that breaks through our human fears. May we follow his example, opening our hearts to be instruments of that same divine mercy in our homes, our parish, and the world today.

Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us!