Archbishop Fulton Sheen and Mercy

“A person is merciful when he feels the sorrow and misery of another as if it were his own. Disliking misery and unhappiness, the merciful man seeks to dispel the misery of his neighbor just as much as he would if the misery were his own.”

By Louise Merrie

In his daily life, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) was merciful to others. In his books, sermons, and television and radio programs, he proclaimed the mercy of God and encouraged everyone to show mercy to their neighbors.

As we anticipate his just-announced beatification on Sept. 24, it's fitting to ask: What is mercy? How did Arcbishop Sheen define it?

In his book The Cross and the Beatitudes, Archbishop Sheen gave a beautiful definition of what it means to be merciful: “A person is merciful when he feels the sorrow and misery of another as if it were his own. Disliking misery and unhappiness, the merciful man seeks to dispel the misery of his neighbor just as much as he would if the misery were his own.”

He reminded his readers: “If then on the last day we would receive a merciful judgment, we must begin here below to be merciful to others.”

Practice what you preach
Archbishop Sheen not only spoke of being merciful; he also lived in a merciful way. He donated his salary from his television show, Life is Worth Living, to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith to provide for the needs of people in mission countries. He also personally helped any person who asked him.

His niece, Joan Sheen Cunningham, in her book My Uncle Fulton Sheen, recalled that whenever she walked with her uncle in New York City, he was often approached by people asking him for money, and he always gave it to them. His great-nephew remembered seeing Archbishop Sheen give his coat to a homeless man.

During his lifetime, Archbishop Sheen helped convert numerous people. He was always willing to meet with anyone interested in the Church and gave instruction to converts. In his autobiography, Treasure in Clay, he wrote, “I have always had a deep passion for helping others find faith.”

Teaching others
Archbishop Sheen devoted his life to teaching people the truth of Jesus and His Church, and helping them to experience peace through God’s love and mercy. He often spoke of God’s mercy of forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance, encouraged Catholics to go to Confession, and heard many confessions himself. In his book Peace of Soul, he showed the benefits of going to Confession and how this Sacrament gives us peace. 

In These are the Sacraments, he wrote:

What a beautiful doctrine and how consoling is this sacrament! See how it combines the poor sinner who is in debt, the Mystical Body to which he is restored by absolution in the confessional, and the mercy of Christ, the Head of His Mystical Body Who gave this power to His Church: "Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth is loosed also in heaven." … Our Lord knew what was in man so He instituted this sacrament, not for His needs but for ours. It was His way of giving man a happy heart.

Cause for celebration
Pope Benedict XVI declared Archbishop Sheen venerable on June 28, 2012, and on Feb. 9, 2026, the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, announced that he will be beatified. As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, Catholics can rejoice that another American has been recognized by the Church for the holiness of his life. 

Archbishop Sheen’s American traits of friendliness, a sense of humor, diligence, and a commitment to treat all people as equal in worth and value in God’s eyes aided him in his ministry. He was approachable, and always had time for anyone who wanted to talk with him.

Even though he often spoke on serious subjects, he made his audience laugh by adding some humor, such as telling them about the angel who erased his blackboard. He worked hard, giving his time to the service of God and others. He was friends with people from all social classes, and treated everyone with kindness.

The beatification of Archbishop Sheen will provide American Catholics with a wonderful example to follow. We can learn from him to seek God’s mercy in Confession, and to practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy in our daily lives. 

To learn more, visit CelebrateSheen.com.
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