EXCLUSIVE | Media trailblazer: The enduring impact of Fulton Sheen on Catholic communicators

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who will be beatified in September, continues to inspire generations of Catholic influencers as a media “trailblazer” and fearless proclaimer of the truth, Monsignor Jason Gray told Zeale News in a July 14 interview.

Monsignor Gray is the executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation and served as the episcopal delegate overseeing the diocesan inquiry into the miracle attributed to Ven. Sheen's intercession, as Zeale News previously reported.  

Monsignor Gray said it was "providential" that Ven. Sheen embraced radio and television as the media were emerging, describing him as "the right person, at the right time, with the right gifts" who helped pave the way for the many opportunities available to Catholic communicators in media today.

“[Ven. Sheen] was getting 4 million listeners on radio and 30 million viewers on television,” Monsignor Gray said. “I don't think it was just the natural skill, the human skill, that made [him] successful. There was something deeper.” 

“I don’t think you would have the depth of the influence and the ongoing influence if you were just selling something surface level,” he added. 

Monsignor Gray said it is important to understand what he described as the source of Venerable Sheen's enduring influence. 

“That [influence] came from a deep spiritual life, a deep life of prayer.” Monsignor Gray told Zeale News. “He was someone who could confront people with what they needed to hear to bring about conversions. I think the people that we are impressed by the most are the ones who speak the truth even when it's not popular.”

This influence, Monsignor Gray added, led to the extensive audience Ven. Sheen drew during his lifetime and continues to draw today.

Monsignor Gray encouraged modern Catholic communicators to draw inspiration from Fulton Sheen’s example, emphasizing the necessity of prayer in forming one’s ministerial identity.

“He had a deep personal sense of what his mission was,” Monsignor Gray said. “And it came from a personal knowledge of our Lord Jesus, and that came from a deep point of prayer.” 

He encouraged Catholic communicators to let the pursuit of truth guide their message.

“Be a person of integrity,” Monsignor Gray said. “Don’t think about what's going to give [you] the most views, what's going to make [you] the most popular, but what is actually the most true?”

The monsignor said Ven. Sheen’s Emmy-winning television program “Life Is Worth Living” featured a simple set that proved more enduring than the competing programs of its day. The set was “basic,” in a sense, consisting of a few books in the background, a desk, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a chalkboard. 

Monsignor Gray contrasted the program with The Milton Berle Show, which aired at the same time on another network. Berle, he noted, was known as “Mr. Television.”

“[Berle] had set changes and costumes and musical numbers and dance, choreography, and guests, and jokes… Sheen just got up in front of a camera without a chorus line, without a band, without a complex set, or an opening act.”

Monsignor Gray said Ven. Sheen's lasting appeal came not from production value but from his ability to speak to the soul.

“There might be the tendency,” he told Zeale News, “for people in media to think about the accidentals — how can I make this more visually appealing? But, Sheen actually appealed to the soul. So, you could watch Milton Berle and be entertained, but you could watch Sheen and your life could be changed.”