'The God Who Gives Joy to My Youth'

The Catholic Thing · Oct 3, 2026 · 6m

By Rev. Peter M.J. Stravinskas

I am writing within the octave of the beatification of Fulton J. Sheen, and find myself still basking in the glow of that blessed and long-awaited event, which had many personal associations for me.

As a schoolboy, I was quizzed every Wednesday morning by Sister, who routinely would ask the class, "What did 'The Bishop' say last night?" (In those days "The Bishop" didn't mean the local Ordinary, but Sheen!).

In third grade, he autographed my First Holy Communion prayer book, declaring to my father, "Sir, someday this young man is going to be a priest." On the…