One of the most influential Christian voices in American media history is about to take a major step toward sainthood.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the legendary Catholic preacher who brought the Christian message into millions of American homes through radio and television, will be formally beatified on September 24, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri.
The ceremony will give him the title “Blessed Fulton Sheen” and bring him one step closer to being recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church.
A Christian Voice That Reached Millions
Long before social media, podcasts and online sermons, Fulton Sheen understood the power of modern communication.
He began appearing on radio in 1930 through “The Catholic Hour,” which eventually reached millions of listeners.
In the 1950s, Sheen became nationally famous through his television program “Life Is Worth Living.”
At its height, the program attracted an estimated 30 million viewers, making Sheen one of the most recognizable religious figures in America.
But behind his public success was a deeply disciplined spiritual life.
One Hour With God — Every Day for 61 Years
As Catholics prepare for his beatification, a remarkable detail about Sheen’s life is once again gaining attention.
According to Vatican News, Sheen dedicated one hour every day to Eucharistic adoration throughout all 61 years of his priesthood.
For Sheen, that daily time of prayer was at the heart of his ministry.
His ability to preach, teach and use television to spread the Christian faith was rooted not simply in his talent as a communicator, but in his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
His life offers a simple but powerful message for Christians today:
Before trying to change the world, spend time with God.
The Miracle Connected to Fulton Sheen
Sheen’s beatification follows the Catholic Church’s recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession.
In 2010, James Fulton Engstrom was born without a pulse.
His family and others prayed for Fulton Sheen’s intercession while doctors attempted to save the child.
The boy survived and recovered. After an investigation, the Catholic Church determined that the recovery could not be adequately explained medically and recognized it as a miracle attributed to Sheen’s intercession.
James is now a healthy teenager and is expected to carry a relic of Sheen during the September 24 beatification ceremony.
A Historic Celebration in St. Louis
The beatification will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle scheduled to preside at the Mass as the representative of Pope Leo XIV.
Christians from Peoria, Illinois — the area most closely associated with Sheen — and believers from across the United States are preparing for the long-awaited celebration.
Pope Leo XIV has also spoken personally about Sheen’s influence, recalling how Sheen’s evangelization reached him while he was growing up.
One Step Away From Sainthood
Beatification does not yet make Fulton Sheen a saint.
After September 24, he will officially be known as Blessed Fulton Sheen.
For canonization as a saint, the Catholic Church would ordinarily require recognition of another miracle attributed to his intercession after beatification.
Nearly five decades after his death in 1979, however, Sheen’s preaching continues to reach new generations.
His story is also a reminder of something he demonstrated decades before today’s digital age: technology can be used not only for entertainment, but also to share faith with millions.
And behind the television cameras and enormous audiences was something much simpler — a man who committed himself to spending an hour with God every day.