A Catholic media star will be beatified in St. Louis, moving a step closer to sainthood

Key Points:

• Fulton J. Sheen, a Catholic bishop and media personality who once won an Emmy over Lucille Ball, is set to be beatified, bringing him closer to sainthood after the Vatican recognized his heroic virtue and a miracle attributed to his intercession.
• The beatification Mass will be held in St. Louis and presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, with wide broadcast coverage, highlighting Sheen's lasting influence on Catholic media and spirituality.
• Sheen popularized the Holy Hour devotion, praying an hour daily before the Eucharist, and was known for making complex theological ideas accessible through his radio and TV programs, including "Life Is Worth Living."
• A miracle attributed to Sheen involved the survival of James Fulton Engstrom, who was clinically dead for over an hour at birth but was revived after his family prayed for Sheen's intercession; this miracle was key to the beatification process.
• The beatification event is expected to draw around 50,000 attendees, many of whom have personal memories of Sheen's evangelization work and media presence, underscoring his enduring impact on American Catholicism.