The Gospel tells us, “In the days that followed, Mary rose up and went with all haste to a city of Judea, in the hill country, where Zachary dwelt; and there entering in she gave Elizabeth greeting. No sooner had Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, than the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Ghost; so that she cried out with a loud voice, ‘Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb’ (Luke 1:39-42).
The first miracle worked by our Lord on earth was performed while He was still in His Mother’s womb. He stirred the unborn John and brought consciousness of His presence to Elizabeth, the cousin of His Mother. Thus, long before Cana, our Lord shows that it is through His Mother that He works His unseen wonders in the heart and through her that He is brought into the souls of men.
The joy of the second Joyful Mystery is that of the Old Testament meeting the New, and of the young maiden greeting the old woman, as Mary burst into the most revolutionary song that was ever sung, the Magnificat, foretelling the day when the mighty would be unseated from their thrones, and the poor would be exalted.
Yet at that moment, when Elizabeth is the first to call her the Mother of God, even before our Lord is born, Mary answers in her song that her greatness is due to Him, and that she was chosen because she was lowly. It may very well be that Mary was chosen to be the Mother of God after she had in her vow renounced the honor. Though greater than Elizabeth, she visits her in her hour of need. Only as we become little do we ever become great in the eyes of God.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary)
Friday, May 31, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Memorial Day - The Military
"With the fighting forces no group equally large is so revered. It is their high calling to the defense of justice and freedom that makes them loved. It was a soldier who first uttered the words recalled by the Church at Communion: 'Lord I am not worthy to have Thee come under my roof but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.' (Matt 8:8)" Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Wartime Prayer Book)
Dear Friends of Sheen,
Today as we proudly pray for all those men and women who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe and free, you may already know that Venerable Fulton Sheen had a great love for our military. He wrote a book called “The Armor of God” which is now published under the title of “Wartime Prayer Book”. Since the beginning of the Archbishop Sheen Foundation we have had an ongoing project to get these books in the hands of our soldiers. We have sent over 200,000 of these books over-seas to our men and women serving in the military. In fact we just sent another 2500 of these books out a couple of months ago. If you would like to help support this endeavor please know that it will always be an ongoing project of ours to support the military in this way. You may donate on-line through our website:
SHEEN WEB SITE
Or if you wish to donate by check just include a note that you wish to donate towards the Wartime Prayer Book campaign and mail it to us at:
Archbishop Sheen Foundation
419 NE Madison Ave.
Peoria, IL 61603
May Almighty God protect our military as we hold them in prayer!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Msgr. Stanley Deptula,
Executive Director
"There are certain things in life which are too beautiful to be forgotten, such as the love of a mother. Hence we treasure her picture. The love of soldiers who sacrificed themselves for their country is likewise too beautiful to be forgotten, hence we revere their memory on Memorial Day. But the greatest blessing which ever came to this earth was the visitation of the Son of God in the form and habit of man. His life, above all lives, is too beautiful to be forgotten, hence we treasure the divinity of His Words in Sacred Scripture, and the charity of His Deeds in our daily actions." Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Calvary and the Mass)
Dear Friends of Sheen,
Today as we proudly pray for all those men and women who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe and free, you may already know that Venerable Fulton Sheen had a great love for our military. He wrote a book called “The Armor of God” which is now published under the title of “Wartime Prayer Book”. Since the beginning of the Archbishop Sheen Foundation we have had an ongoing project to get these books in the hands of our soldiers. We have sent over 200,000 of these books over-seas to our men and women serving in the military. In fact we just sent another 2500 of these books out a couple of months ago. If you would like to help support this endeavor please know that it will always be an ongoing project of ours to support the military in this way. You may donate on-line through our website:
SHEEN WEB SITE
Or if you wish to donate by check just include a note that you wish to donate towards the Wartime Prayer Book campaign and mail it to us at:
Archbishop Sheen Foundation
419 NE Madison Ave.
Peoria, IL 61603
May Almighty God protect our military as we hold them in prayer!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Msgr. Stanley Deptula,
Executive Director
"There are certain things in life which are too beautiful to be forgotten, such as the love of a mother. Hence we treasure her picture. The love of soldiers who sacrificed themselves for their country is likewise too beautiful to be forgotten, hence we revere their memory on Memorial Day. But the greatest blessing which ever came to this earth was the visitation of the Son of God in the form and habit of man. His life, above all lives, is too beautiful to be forgotten, hence we treasure the divinity of His Words in Sacred Scripture, and the charity of His Deeds in our daily actions." Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Calvary and the Mass)
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Pentecost
“Assuming a human nature from the Blessed Mother, the procession of Divine Life moved on the earth in the Person of Jesus Christ and finally wound its way up the hill of Calvary, and on Good Friday a soldier struck a lance into the side of that Sacred Humanity and blood and water poured forth: blood the price of our Redemption, and water the symbol of our regeneration. The Son sent by His Father now returns to the Father, and from the Eternal Godhead the procession of life moves on as the Father and the Son send their Holy Spirit full of Truth and Love to the Mystical Body on the day of Pentecost. Striking that Mystical Body as the brightness of the sun striking a prism splits up into the seven rays of the spectrum. The procession of Divine Life broke up into the seven sacraments to flood the members of that Body with Divine Life for the seven states from the cradle to the grave. The procession of Life moves on as Christ once more walks the earth in His Mystical Body, the Church." Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Friday, May 10, 2013
Sheen Get's Lifetime Achievement Award From Alma Mater!
At a Mass celebrated by Msgr. Stanley Deptula, Msgr. Mark Merdian and Fr. Adam Stimpson, Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen received the lifetime achievement award from his Alma Mater, now called Peoria Notre Dame. The award was accepted by Msgr. Deptula who is the Executive Director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation in Peoria, IL.
Sheen was enrolled in Spalding Institute conducted by the Brothers of Mary. He thought the Brothers were excellent teachers, given to discipline, yet much beloved. One of his classmates was Jimmy Jordan, who later on became known on radio as Fibber McGee. Just across the street in the girls Academy of Our Lady was a young girl who later became Fibber’s wife Molly on radio. One block away at Peoria High School was a boy who later became Andy of the famous Amos and Andy team. Thus Peoria produced four famous radio personalities of those times. Sheen was valedictorian of the class his senior year.
Sheen was enrolled in Spalding Institute conducted by the Brothers of Mary. He thought the Brothers were excellent teachers, given to discipline, yet much beloved. One of his classmates was Jimmy Jordan, who later on became known on radio as Fibber McGee. Just across the street in the girls Academy of Our Lady was a young girl who later became Fibber’s wife Molly on radio. One block away at Peoria High School was a boy who later became Andy of the famous Amos and Andy team. Thus Peoria produced four famous radio personalities of those times. Sheen was valedictorian of the class his senior year.
After the Mass there was a reception in the school library where special guests could admire the award. Also in attendance were “friends of Sheen”, Sharon Fulton, Jane Hunt, Michelle Rebello and Grace Sposato.
Listen to the homily here: SHEEN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD MASS
During the Mass was the May Crowning of Mary. This is the same statue of Mary that would have been at the school when Sheen attended. Pictured here is the crowning at the Mass and Sheen visiting the school later in life with the same statue in the background.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Happy Birthday Venerable Fulton Sheen 5/8/1895
Happy Birthday VENERABLE SERVANT OF GOD ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN! In honor of Archbishop Sheen’s birthday today, May 8th, EWTN will be showing the movie about his life at 1PM EST (2PM CDT). Please encourage your friends to watch this great movie.
I have always enjoyed the wit and wisdom of Venerable Sheen and I must say I have inserted this quote by Sheen in a few birthday cards as Sheen truly appreciated a good joke.
“The best definition of an adult that was ever given is that an adult is one who has stopped growing at both ends and has begun to grow in the middle.” Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Sheen started all his shows with a little humor, mostly at his own expense. Sheen was so humble he could always laugh at himself. As we wish Sheen a happy birthday and pray for his Canonization, it is good to remember that part of our mission is to bring people closer to Christ through Venerable Fulton Sheen. As the great Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is almost upon us I thought it would be a good time to share with you a reflection Sheen wrote for the Ascension while praying the rosary. Thank you for all your prayers for the Cause and may you have a blessed Solemnity.
Peace,
Msgr. Stanley Deptula
Executive Director
“The Ascension of Christ is the assurance of our own ascension into heaven after the Last Judgment. Not yet ascended in body, we nevertheless enjoy the ascension of our minds in union with Him. We find our true home in heaven. It is to heaven that we look expectantly for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to save us; He will form this humbled body of ours anew, modeling it into the image of His glorified body, so effective is His power to make all things obey Him. O heavenly Magnet, in each communion draw our body and blood to Thy own, that already following Thee in heart, we may later ascend with Thee in the flesh!” +Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
I have always enjoyed the wit and wisdom of Venerable Sheen and I must say I have inserted this quote by Sheen in a few birthday cards as Sheen truly appreciated a good joke.
“The best definition of an adult that was ever given is that an adult is one who has stopped growing at both ends and has begun to grow in the middle.” Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Sheen started all his shows with a little humor, mostly at his own expense. Sheen was so humble he could always laugh at himself. As we wish Sheen a happy birthday and pray for his Canonization, it is good to remember that part of our mission is to bring people closer to Christ through Venerable Fulton Sheen. As the great Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is almost upon us I thought it would be a good time to share with you a reflection Sheen wrote for the Ascension while praying the rosary. Thank you for all your prayers for the Cause and may you have a blessed Solemnity.
Peace,
Msgr. Stanley Deptula
Executive Director
“The Ascension of Christ is the assurance of our own ascension into heaven after the Last Judgment. Not yet ascended in body, we nevertheless enjoy the ascension of our minds in union with Him. We find our true home in heaven. It is to heaven that we look expectantly for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to save us; He will form this humbled body of ours anew, modeling it into the image of His glorified body, so effective is His power to make all things obey Him. O heavenly Magnet, in each communion draw our body and blood to Thy own, that already following Thee in heart, we may later ascend with Thee in the flesh!” +Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Feast of St. Joseph The Worker 5/1/2013
Dear friends,
Every once in a while I read something that I just must share. On this great Feast of St. Joseph the Worker I wanted to share with you this quote from Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen given on his radio show the Catholic Hour on February 18, 1951. Please remember that we post daily quotes for Archbishop Sheen on both Facebook and Twitter so make sure you tell your friends and help us in the mission of bringing people closer to Christ through Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
Peace,
Msgr. Stanley Deptula,
Executive Director
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation
“the type of marriage which took place between Mary and Joseph; it was such as the stars have, whose light unites in the atmosphere, though the stars themselves do not; a marriage like the flowers in the garden in springtime, who give forth perfume, though they themselves do not touch; a marriage like an orchestration where a great melody is produced, but where one instrument is without contact with the other. In such a marriage the use of the right to another is surrendered for a higher purpose. Mary wanted to know how she could be a virgin and a mother, and Joseph wanted to know how he could be a virgin and a father. It took an angel to reassure both that God had found a way. Only those who listen to angels’ voices can pierce that mystery. How much more beautiful Mary and Joseph become when we see in their lives what might be called the first Divine Romance. God loves bellowing waterfalls, but I believe He loves them better not when they overflow and drown His flowers, but when they are harnessed and bridled to light a city and to slake the thirst of a child. Not then in Joseph and Mary do we find one pure controlled waterfall and one dried-up lake, but rather two youths who before they knew the beauty of the one, and the handsome strength of the other, willed to surrender it for the ‘passionless passion’ and ‘wild tranquility’ of Jesus.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Every once in a while I read something that I just must share. On this great Feast of St. Joseph the Worker I wanted to share with you this quote from Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen given on his radio show the Catholic Hour on February 18, 1951. Please remember that we post daily quotes for Archbishop Sheen on both Facebook and Twitter so make sure you tell your friends and help us in the mission of bringing people closer to Christ through Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
Peace,
Msgr. Stanley Deptula,
Executive Director
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation
“the type of marriage which took place between Mary and Joseph; it was such as the stars have, whose light unites in the atmosphere, though the stars themselves do not; a marriage like the flowers in the garden in springtime, who give forth perfume, though they themselves do not touch; a marriage like an orchestration where a great melody is produced, but where one instrument is without contact with the other. In such a marriage the use of the right to another is surrendered for a higher purpose. Mary wanted to know how she could be a virgin and a mother, and Joseph wanted to know how he could be a virgin and a father. It took an angel to reassure both that God had found a way. Only those who listen to angels’ voices can pierce that mystery. How much more beautiful Mary and Joseph become when we see in their lives what might be called the first Divine Romance. God loves bellowing waterfalls, but I believe He loves them better not when they overflow and drown His flowers, but when they are harnessed and bridled to light a city and to slake the thirst of a child. Not then in Joseph and Mary do we find one pure controlled waterfall and one dried-up lake, but rather two youths who before they knew the beauty of the one, and the handsome strength of the other, willed to surrender it for the ‘passionless passion’ and ‘wild tranquility’ of Jesus.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
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