Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would have been pleased.  

The Evening Prayer, or Vespers, held on Wednesday, Sept. 23, was long on superlatives. A mix of superior beauty, maximum reverence, and profound spirituality, about 1,500 cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and other clergy gathered with seminarians, religious brothers and sisters, and lay faithful to prepare for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification on Thursday. 

The ticketed event was held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, a breathtaking setting, making its only appearance during the Celebrate Sheen festivities. Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of St. Louis presided. 

Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minn., said in his almost 19-minute reflection, “I consider it one of the single privileges of my life to be able to preach this homily on the vigil of Fulton Sheen’s beatification.” 

In a thorough but concise review and assessment of Archbishop Sheen’s career, Bishop Barron, who has followed the archbishop’s lead, said, “From the very beginning of my own work in evangelization, Sheen has been my model and inspiration. I do indeed consider him one of the pivotal players in the modern history of the Catholic Church, for he opened the door to evangelizing the world through electronic media.” 

“Since he always wanted his teaching to have an outward-looking mission orientation, he enthusiastically responded to the invitation to be a principal speaker during the Catholic Hour radio broadcast. Why? He knew this would expand the walls of his classroom exponentially,” Bishop Barron said, noting Archbishop Sheen’s leadership, from 1950 to 1966, of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, part of what is now the Pontifical Mission Societies USA. 

“What we do tomorrow does nothing to increase Fulton’s sanctity. It doesn’t make his place in heaven any higher. Rather, what we do tomorrow affects the Church, for it brings this holy man in a powerful way before the attention of the world,” Bishop Barron said, calling Archbishop Sheen “the saint of the new evangelization.” 

Also reminiscent of Archbishop Sheen, the event was relatively quick and to the point, concluding after 55 minutes, including procession in and out of the celebrants, and Bishop Barron’s reflection.  

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis began construction in 1907, to replace what is now called The Old Cathedral near St. Louis’ Gateway Arch and the west bank of the Mississippi River. That church remains active and was the site of a young people’s holy hour attended in the evening by some of the Sisters of Life, Franciscan Friars, and lay people. 

The new cathedral hosted its first Mass in 1914, and was completed in 1926. Work on the mosaics that adorn its ceiling and walls continued until 1986.  

On Thursday, Celebrate Sheen moves to the Dome at America’s Center in central St. Louis, an all-purpose venue that will host the beatification Mass, the beatification pre-show, and the Celebrate Sheen expo.