The Vatican officially announced March 25 that Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis, Missouri, bringing to fulfillment a moment Catholics have awaited for years and confirming what many faithful long believed: that one of the 20th century’s greatest evangelists will soon be counted among the “blessed” and move one step closer to canonization.
In a statement following the announcement, Bishop Luis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, noted the beatification will be presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization, at 2 p.m. at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, adding that special events will be held in Peoria to celebrate the occasion.
“This is a moment of immense grace for the Church—especially for us in the Diocese of Peoria, where Archbishop Sheen was born, ordained, and first served as a priest,” Bishop Tylka said. His life and ministry continue to inspire countless people to know and love Jesus Christ more deeply.”
The move to schedule the special liturgy marks a decisive step forward in the archbishop’s canonization cause after a six-year delay. Originally scheduled for December 2019, Archbishop Sheen’s beatification was postponed over a request for further investigation into his ministry just weeks before it was to occur, leaving many devoted followers disappointed and in a period of hopeful waiting.
That waiting ended earlier this year when the Diocese of Peoria announced that the Vatican had approved the cause to move forward. As Zeale News reported, the decision affirmed Archbishop Sheen’s life of heroic virtue and recognized a verified miracle attributed to his intercession — the healing of a child born without a heartbeat or respiration in 2010.
For Monsignor Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation, the announcement of a date comes as no surprise — only as the long-anticipated next step.
“I just knew it was going to happen. I just didn’t know when,” Msgr. Gray told Zeale News in an exclusive February interview, reflecting on his years investigating both Archbishop Sheen’s life and the miracle that advanced his cause.
His influence remains difficult to overstate. Known as “God’s microphone,” he reached millions through radio, television, and print, most notably through his Emmy-winning program Life Is Worth Living. Yet, as Msgr. Gray emphasized, his impact was rooted not merely in communication skill but in a deep spiritual life and genuine humility.
Despite his intellectual brilliance and academic achievements, then-Father Sheen chose a path of pastoral simplicity early in his priesthood. Assigned to a working-class parish instead of a university post, he immersed himself in ordinary ministry — visiting families, preaching faithfully, and meeting people where they were.
“He really understood the common man,” Msgr. Gray said, noting that the archbishop’s intellect never created distance but instead became a bridge to bring others closer to Christ.
This ability to connect faith with everyday life became a hallmark of his preaching. He famously drew from current events, philosophy, and culture, embodying what Msgr. Gray described as a preacher who effectively held “Bible in one hand, and the local paper in another hand.”
That approach resonates strongly today, as Catholics continue to navigate a rapidly changing cultural landscape. Archbishop Sheen’s witness offers a model for evangelization that is both intellectually serious and accessible.
As Bishop Tylka noted when the Vatican approved the beatification earlier this year, the Church lifts up figures like the archbishop, not simply to honor them but to propose their lives as examples for the faithful.
For Catholics in the U.S., the moment carries particular significance. Born in Peoria,and now buried there, Archbishop Sheen’s journey reflects how holiness can emerge from humble beginnings and reach a global audience.
Msgr. Gray also pointed to the spiritual practices that sustained the archbishop’s life, especially his daily Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament, as the key to understanding his legacy.
“Pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament,” he said in regards to pursuing a holy life. “That actually is probably the most important thing that you can do.”
The announcement of Archbishop Sheen’s beatification came on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, a major Marian feast in the Church and one the archbishop held in great regard given his profound love for Our Lady. He wrote about the Blessed Mother extensively, including in his 1952 book, The World’s First Love.
“His deep love for the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist shaped everything he did,” Bishop Tylka said earlier this year, adding that Archbishop Sheen’s preaching, teaching, and missionary work “helped countless people encounter Jesus in a personal and life-changing way.”
In his March 25 announcement, the Peoria bishop invited all to the September beatification.
“The Beatification Mass will be a profound moment of prayer and celebration for the faithful near and far,” Bishop Tylka said. “I invite all who have been touched by Archbishop Sheen’s life and legacy to join us in spirit or in person for this historic event.”
Updates on the beatification events can be found at celebratesheen.com.