EXCLUSIVE | 5 reported miracles could be potential leads to advance Fulton Sheen’s canonization cause

Ahead of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s beatification this September, Monsignor Jason Gray spoke with Zeale News in a July 14 interview about the miracle that advanced Ven. Sheen's cause for sainthood and what lies ahead.

Monsignor Gray, the executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, served as the episcopal delegate overseeing the diocesan inquiry into the miracle attributed to Ven. Sheen's intercession. He told Zeale News that five reported miracles have emerged as potential leads that could help advance Ven. Sheen's cause toward canonization. After beatification, a second Church-approved miracle is required before canonization.

“The fact that we actually have five potential vehicles makes me think that Sheen is going to be canonized relatively soon,” he said. 

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Monsignor Gray said some of those reported miracles date back to July 2019 when Pope Francis first cleared the way for Ven. Sheen’s beatification by approving the first miracle. Other reported miracles dating back to that year remain eligible for investigation because the "green light" to beatify Ven. Sheen had been given before the Diocese of Rochester, New York's bankruptcy and ensuing investigation into Ven. Sheen’s episcopate brought the late archbishop’s cause for sainthood to a halt. “Because the permission was given in 2019,” he said, “and it wasn't withdrawn, it was only suspended, we can actually use any miracle from 2019 forward.”

The Vatican, under Pope Leo XIV, announced on March 25 that Ven. Sheen’s beatification could proceed. 

As Zeale News previously reported, the Vatican recognized Ven. Sheen's heroic virtue and approved the miracle attributed to his intercession, allowing his cause to move forward to beatification.

Monsignor Gray told Zeale News that the miracle involved the 2010 healing of newborn James Fulton Engstrom, who was born with "no motion, no respiration, no heartbeat" and regained vital signs after 61 minutes as his family prayed for Ven. Sheen's intercession.

“It's inexplicable that you could be without oxygen for 61 minutes and still survive without any repercussions,” Monsignor Gray said.

He said miracles that advance a cause for sainthood ultimately reveal what human investigation alone cannot.

“[Ven. Sheen's] life did seem to be exemplary,” he said, “but we still need some sort of confirmation from heaven, and that's where the miracle comes in.”

He continued, saying, “We can only see what's on the outside. But God can look into the heart,” he said, adding that God speaks “through things that are beyond natural explanation.”

Monsignor Gray also encouraged Catholics devoted to Ven. Sheen's cause to continue praying for his intercession.

“If people don't pray,” he told Zeale News, “then there's not the opportunity for that potential saint to intercede and actually have the miracle that takes place. So it's really important that people who are supportive of a cause pray for a miracle.”