Beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

The beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen took place at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis on 24th September, with an attendance of tens of thousands of faithful. Pope Leo XIII issued a papal decree recognising Fulton Sheen’s beatification. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, serving as the papal legate, read the apostolic letter during the Mass in St. Louis.

Blessed Fulton Sheen’s feast day will be observed on 9th December, the anniversary of his death. This date also commemorates the first apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego in 1531.

Download the Official Beatification Mass Programme — Blessed Fulton J. Sheen — 24 September 2026

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen understood the power of modern communication long before television became a normal part of everyday life.

Sheen was already famous for his work on radio and television before the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) began in 1962. He attended all four sessions of Vatican II, which took place between 1962 and 1965.[1] A detailed study of the Council records reports that he was present throughout all four sessions, attended 168 general congregations and all ten public sessions, and served throughout the Council on its Commission on the Missions.[1]

By this time, Sheen had already shown that television could be used for much more than entertainment. Through programmes such as Life Is Worth Living, he used television to speak about Christianity, morality and everyday life to millions of people. His audience extended far beyond a single local congregation.[2]

Sheen understood that television required a different way of communicating. He spoke directly to the camera, told stories, used humour and explained difficult ideas in simple language. His famous blackboard also helped him explain his ideas visually.

During Vatican II, the Catholic Church considered how modern forms of communication could be used responsibly. One of the Council’s documents was Inter Mirifica, or the Decree on the Means of Social Communication, promulgated on 4 December 1963.[3]

The document discussed newspapers, films, radio and television. The Council recognised that these modern forms of communication could reach and influence individuals, large groups of people and society as a whole. It also recognised that, when used properly, they could contribute to education and to spreading the Christian message.[3]

Inter Mirifica also said that people working in the media had important responsibilities. Information should be truthful, human dignity should be respected, and those producing programmes and publications should understand the influence they could have on others.[3]

Fulton Sheen should not be described as the author of Inter Mirifica, and there is not enough evidence to say that he personally shaped its final wording. His importance is different.

Fulton Sheen had already demonstrated in practice what Vatican II was beginning to recognise officially: modern communications could be powerful tools for reaching people.

While the Council was discussing the possibilities of television and mass communication, Sheen brought years of practical broadcasting experience. He had already shown that religious teaching did not have to remain inside churches. Through radio and television, it could enter people’s homes and reach millions.

In that sense, Fulton Sheen was ahead of his time. He did not simply talk about using modern media for evangelisation – he had already proved that it could be done.

1. Primary source — Official Mass Programme
Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen, Archbishop, official Beatification Mass programme, 24 September 2026, Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation/Beatification organisers. The programme identifies the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation and its official websites.

2. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation — Official Beatification Schedule
The official schedule for 24 September 2026 records the Beatification programme and Mass at The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis. It records the Beatification programme and Mass beginning at 1:30 p.m. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation
Official Fulton Sheen Beatification — 24 September schedule

3. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation — Worldwide Broadcast
The Foundation states that the Beatification ceremony was arranged for television and internet streaming and would be accessible worldwide. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation
Foundation Beatification broadcast information

4. EWTN — Mass of Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
EWTN’s listing identifies Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as presider and The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, Missouri, as the location of the Beatification Mass. The listing records the programme as 210 minutes. EWTN Global Catholic Television Network
EWTN — Fulton Sheen Beatification Mass broadcast and livestream listing

5. AdVaticanum
“Elegant Latin” and “dramatic gestures”: Archbishop Fulton Sheen at the Second Vatican Council, 23 September 2026. The study reports that Sheen was present throughout all four sessions, attended 168 general congregations and all ten public sessions, and served throughout the Council on the Commission on the Missions.
AdVaticanum — Archbishop Fulton Sheen at the Second Vatican Council

6. Second Vatican Council
Inter Mirifica: Decree on the Means of Social Communication, promulgated by Pope Paul VI, 4 December 1963.
Vatican — Inter Mirifica, official text

7. Library of Congress
Fred Palumbo, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, full-length portrait, 1952. New York World-Telegram & Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection. Rights advisory: no known restrictions on publication for New York World-Telegram & Sun staff photographs.
Library of Congress — Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, 1952

IMAGE REFERENCES

Image 1 — Remembrance Plaque
In Remembrance — An image from the Beatification of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen will appear here soon. 24 September 2026, The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis.
Black-and-gold editorial remembrance plaque created for Gilded Orpharion.

Image 2 — Fulton J. Sheen’s Tomb
The tomb of Fulton J. Sheen, Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Peoria, Illinois, 23 August 2023. Photograph by Farragutful. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
Wikimedia Commons — Fulton Sheen tomb

Image 3 — Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation — Official Beatification Schedule
The official schedule for 24 September 2026 records the Beatification programme and Mass at The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis. It records the Beatification programme and Mass beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation — Official Beatification Schedule

Image 4 — Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, 1952
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, full-length portrait, standing among bookshelves beside a statue of the Madonna and Child, 1952. Photograph by Fred Palumbo, World Telegram staff photographer. New York World-Telegram & Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, Library of Congress. The archival record identifies it as an NYWT&S staff photograph; reproduction rights for staff photographs were transferred to the Library of Congress and the image is recorded as having no known copyright restriction.
Library of Congress — original archival record
Wikimedia Commons — Fulton J. Sheen NYWTS

Image 5 — Fulton J. Sheen at His Desk, 1956
Fulton J. Sheen at his desk, 23 October 1956. ABC Radio publicity photograph. Wikimedia Commons records the photograph as public domain in the United States; the stated basis is publication in the United States without a copyright notice.
Wikimedia Commons — Bishop Fulton J. Sheen 1956

Image 6 — Inter Mirifica: Decree on the Means of Social Communication
Original graphic artwork created by Joseph Eldridge for Gilded Orpharion, based on the title and subject of the Second Vatican Council decree Inter Mirifica: Decree on the Means of Social Communication, promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 4 December 1963. © 2026 Joseph Eldridge / Gilded Orpharion. All rights reserved.
Vatican — Inter Mirifica, official text

Image 7 — Second Vatican Council in Session
Second Vatican Council in session in St Peter’s Basilica, 1962–1965. Catholic Press Photo / photographer unknown. Wikimedia Commons records the photograph as public domain in Italy and the United States under its applicable copyright analysis.
Wikimedia Commons — Vatican II in session

Image 8 — Fulton J. Sheen, Cropped Portrait, 1956
Fulton J. Sheen, cropped portrait, 23 October 1956. Cropped from the ABC Radio publicity photograph Bishop Fulton J. Sheen 1956. Wikimedia Commons records the underlying photograph as public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States without a copyright notice.
Wikimedia Commons — Bishop Fulton J. Sheen 1956 (cropped)

Image 9 — Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, Early Portrait
Rev. Fulton J. Sheen. Photograph by Harris & Ewing, Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress. The Library of Congress records no known restrictions on publication, and Wikimedia Commons identifies the work as public domain.
Wikimedia Commons — Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, Harris & Ewing

EDITORIAL NOTE

This article distinguishes Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s documented participation in the Second Vatican Council from any claim that he authored or directly shaped Inter Mirifica. No such claim is made.