From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple:
October 4, 2026 (#137)
Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen in Raleigh
Almost five years to the day after his visit to Raleigh, that is, on December 9, 1979, Archbishop Fulton Sheen died in his chapel at his New York residence. Following his Beatification Mass in Saint Louis, Missouri, on September 24th of this year, the Holy See announced that his feast day was set, in keeping with tradition, on December 9, the day of his death.
The cause for his presence in Raleigh on Sunday, December 8, 1974, was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the erection of the Diocese of Raleigh (December 12, 1924). The archbishop had agreed to be the homilist for the jubilee Mass that was offered at the Dorton Arena in Raleigh. It so happened that the Bishop of Raleigh, Vincent S. Waters, died on the previous Tuesday, December 3, 1974. It was announced at the time that the dying wish of Bishop Waters was that the anniversary celebration be held as planned. And so it was, in the of two cardinals, numerous bishops and abbots, priests of the Dioceses of Raleigh and Charlotte (which had recently been established, in 1971), clergy from other Christian churches and ecclesial communities and synagogues, and representation from all the parishes of the Diocese of Raleigh, at the arena by the fairgrounds in the capital city.
Sheen was 74 at the time, five years since his retirement as the Bishop of Rochester, New York. His homily included several of his classic references and expressions, previously used in his many presentations, extensive preaching, and extensive writings. Of course, he referred to the anniversary being observed, as well as to the life and death of Bishop Waters. He also preached on the feast being observed that day, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (It should be noted that the Immaculate Conception had been established as the patroness of the Diocese of Raleigh at the petition to Bishop Waters, nearly 30 years previously). Notably, he also described in some details the many difficulties the Church was undergoing at the time as well as the consequences of “the end of Christendom” which the wider society was experiencing. But he concluded with the hopeful proclamation that the Church, like Christ, “is always coming out of a tomb.”
Video of the homily of Blessed Fulton Sheen at the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Raleigh Mass is available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itlIMIwPeIc
Books by and about Blessed Fulton Sheen are available Here:
