Beatification of Fulton J. Sheen: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle’s Full Homily

1. Greetings from Pope Leo XIVCardinal Tagle opened his homily by conveying fraternal greetings from Pope Leo XIV, noting that the Holy Father rejoiced in the beatification of his fellow American, fellow Illinoisan, and brother bishop. 2. What Truly Makes an Evangelizer "Blessed"?Acknowledging Archbishop Sheen’s enormous public profile—his millions of radio listeners, television viewers, and vast readership—Cardinal Tagle raised a core question: What truly makes a missionary blessed? Is it fame, Nielsen ratings, or millions of followers?The Answer: None of those things. True holiness and blessedness do not come from worldly success, audience size, or personal talent, but from communion with Jesus Christ and closeness to the poor and vulnerable. 3. The "Porter" to the House of GodCardinal Tagle recalled a famous story about Archbishop Sheen and Pope Pius XII. When asked how many people he had converted, Sheen refused to count numbers, explaining that he was merely a "porter" at the door of the house. A porter opens the door, steps aside, and ushers people in to encounter the Master of the house. For Sheen, the house was the Church and the house of God; his role was simply to facilitate an encounter with Christ. 4. An Earthen Vessel Drawing Power from ChristReflecting on the Pauline theme of carrying a treasure in earthen vessels, Cardinal Tagle emphasized that the power of an evangelizer comes entirely from God, not the human minister. Fulton Sheen was a compelling storyteller because he knew he was called simply to tell the Gospel story, not his own. 5. Beholding the Wounds of Christ in the PoorCardinal Tagle concluded by connecting Sheen’s daily Eucharistic Holy Hour to his love for the marginalized:"Blessed is the evangelizer converted by beholding and touching the wounds of the Risen Christ in wounded brothers and sisters." "Blessed is the missionary who digs deep into the heart of the poor to meet Jesus there."