Blessed Fulton J. Sheen: Sharing the Gospel with the World
The Catholic Church recently celebrated the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who is now known as Blessed Fulton J. Sheen. On September 24, 2026, thousands of Catholics gathered in St. Louis, Missouri, for this historic celebration, presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the representative of Pope Leo XIV.
Archbishop Sheen was a gifted priest, teacher, preacher and evangelist who used the communication tools of his time—especially radio and television—to share the message of Jesus Christ. His television program Life Is Worth Living reached millions of people and helped bring the Catholic faith into homes across North America.
His journey toward beatification included the Church’s recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession. The miracle involved the survival of James Fulton Engstrom, who was born without a pulse in 2010 and later recovered after prayers were offered through Archbishop Sheen’s intercession.
Blessed Fulton J. Sheen’s widely shared five principles or “rules” for raising children focus on instilling discipline, moral integrity, and a sense of higher purpose. The five core guidelines frequently highlighted from his teachings on family life include:
Teach Obedience First: Children need good habits and structure long before they can grasp complex philosophical or moral explanations. As Sheen noted, “Obedience is the condition of wisdom”, laying the groundwork for sound judgment later in life.
Lead by Moral Example: Parents cannot expect children to respect rules or act with integrity if adults do not practice what they preach. True reverence for a law flows from observing genuine reverence in those who enforce it.
Give Purpose Over License: True freedom is not merely doing whatever one pleases, but having the moral power to do what one ought. Children need a higher, timeless goal that pulls them beyond selfish, instantaneous desires.
Build an Environment of Love: Children thrive when nurtured in genuine affection and security. Without a loving home foundation, a young heart easily becomes cold, defensive, or bitter.
Listen and Avoid Over-Commanding: Sheen cautioned against burdening children with an endless stream of minor commands and micromanagement, which turns parents into arbitrary authoritarians rather than guides of the moral law. He stressed that children should not just be talked to, but talked with—treating their interests and thoughts with real respect.