The Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will take place on Thursday, September 24, 2026. When Pope St. John Paul II embraced the suffering Archbishop Sheen in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on October 2nd, 1979, he told him, “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus. You are a loyal son of the Church!” Just two months later, on December 9th, Fulton Sheen entered into Eternal Life.
Those who have heard or read Archbishop Sheen will know of his deep devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. He has said that “The world’s greatest need is to rediscover the true image of Christ’s Face–a Face of mercy, not judgement; of tenderness, not wrath.” He knew from personal experience that devotion to the Holy Face is a powerful means of encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen manifested his devotion by seeking His God’s Face through: Discipleship–to see Jesus in the Face of those in need; in the Passion of Jesus expressed in images of the wounded Face of Jesus; and through his life-long commitment to a daily “Holy Hour,” by contemplating the Face of Christ hidden in the Eucharist–where he learned to see the Face of God everywhere and in every person. These are the components of devotion to the Face of Jesus as characterized by Pope Benedict XVI, who also declared Archbishop Sheen “Venerable Servant of God,” in 2012; recognizing Sheen’s life of heroic Christian virtue. Archbishop Sheen has said, “We become what we adore.” In other words, as we contemplate the Face of Christ in these ways, we are transformed by the Holy Spirit into His Image.
Archbishop Sheen often wondered aloud if we could recognize Jesus in the many ways He comes to us? And if we did recognize Him, would we care? Would an encounter with Jesus change our life? We would have a choice to make in that moment: to either accept and embrace Him by accepting our crosses in this life, and all that it means to be a Christian; or to reject Him–or perhaps, to be indifferent. The most cruel choice of all is indifference to Him, Who died for us. Archbishop Sheen believed that indifference may have caused Christ even more pain than His suffering on Calvary.
A chilling warning to the indifferent is spoken of in the Book of Revelation when the Spirit speaks to the church in Laodicea…
“I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth…” (Rev. 3:14-22)
One of the most powerful talks that Archbishop Sheen had ever given was for a Good Friday sermon–in which he recited a portion of the poem “Indifference or When Jesus Came to Golgotha” by Geoffrey Stuart-Kennedy (1883-1929)
Indifference
When Jesus came to Golgotha They hanged Him on a tree, They drove great nails through hands and feet, And made a Calvary. They crowned Him with a crown of thorns; Red were His wounds and deep, For those were crude and cruel days, And human flesh was cheap. When Jesus came to Birmingham, They simply passed Him by; They never hurt a hair of Him, They only let Him die. For men had gown more tender, And they would not give pain; They only just passed down the street, And left Him in the winter rain That drenched Him through and through. The crowds went home and left the streets Without a soul to see; And Jesus crouched against a wall And cried for Calvary. When Jesus came to Golgotha They hanged Him on a tree, They drove great nails through hands and feet, and made a Calvary. They crowned Him with a crown of thorns; Red were His wounds and deep, For those were crude and cruel days, And human life was cheap. When Jesus came to Birmingham, They simply passed Him by; They never hurt a hair of Him, They only let Him die. For men had grown more tender, And they would not give Him pain; They only just passed down the street, And left Him in the winter rain That drenched Him through and through. The crowds went home and left the streets Without a soul to see; And Jesus crouched against a wall And cried for Calvary.
Archbishop Sheen prophetically spoke against the dangers of the spread of Communism–an evil ideology which has increased in the world, in spite of its devastating harm to humanity. He proposed in its place, the Christian alternative embodied in the figure of the charitable woman, traditionally known as “Veronica” (True icon), who, in an act of love, took her veil and wiped the Face of the suffering Christ–covered with blood, sweat, dust, and spittle–on His way to Calvary. And in return for her love, He left on her veil–as well as on the veil of her soul–the imprint of His Holy Face.
“Human Beings were not all meant to carry either a sickle or a hammer. Some are meant to carry towels — to wipe away the beads on feverish brows, to stroke the aching head, and to touch the worn face as with healing wings. Such was the mission of Veronica, who dared brave a violent mob to refresh the Savior and in reward to receive on her towel the imprint of the Face that saved the world.
By that miracle, Thou didst testify, Divine Savior, that society has a place not only for toilers but also for mourners, whose delicate sympathies lighten the burden of those who must carry a cross. Grant unto the world, which is rapidly becoming so violent, an army of “Veronica’s” to wipe away the tears of the victims of violence; and do Thou also let them see that when they do it to the least of their brethren, they, like Veronica of old, do it unto Thee.” ~ Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
“And the King will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me.” (Mt. 25:40)
(Click here to learn more about “what it means to be a Veronica.”)
Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Pray for us!
Illumina Domine Blog - Devotion to The Holy Face 