I said that in the com box of a friend - joking - but later I thought about it more seriously, and now I think it is just wrong. Here's the story:
TV Bishop Fulton Sheen is finally going home to Peoria, Ill. — nearly 37 years after he died — thanks to a Manhattan judge’s ruling against the Catholic Archdiocese of New York.
The archdiocese had been feuding with Sheen’s family over his final resting place. - Read more here.
He belongs in NYC. He was exiled to Rochester by Cardinal Spellman in the mid-1960's - he shouldn't be exiled again. He belongs in Manhattan. That is where he evangelized. And NYC needs him now.
What a nutty judge! Who would ever include directions in their will for what to do if their cause for canonization is opened. Since that has nothing to do with secular law it shouldn't have been a factor.
ReplyDeleteIn my will I have that provision - I also have a provision for what can be cut off. What?
DeleteIt snowed yesterday!
Do you also make provision for Gabrielle and have you started composing and scheduling posts and designated someone to post comments on your behalf?
ReplyDeleteIt's all taken care of. The blog will simply roll on - reposting until the end of the world.
DeleteI disagree. It's clear NY doesn't really want him. If they did, they would have opened the cause and funded it themselves. They didn't. The promised that if Peoria did the work of getting him canonized, that his relics could be moved there. That was the agreement. It's also the will of his next of kin. It will also be good for the devotion of the people. The Blesseds and Venerables buried in St. Patricks are buried in a crypt that is not open to the public. If you want to pray there, you have to make a special appointment and even then they make it clear they are displeased by the hassle of having to open the crypt. The people should be able to pray at the tombs of our Saints, Blesseds, and Venerabile freely. It's good for their devotion. St. Patrick's and the Archdiocese apparently don't want devotion, so I say move them to where people can visit and pray in peace. you should rethink your position.
ReplyDeleteI did rethink it. Okay - I'll rethink it again. I'm not sure I really care one way or another as to where they put him - I just like being au contraire about such things. I love reading your comments. :)
DeleteI'm thrilled personally. And in honor of the move I will pull out an reread one of my books by the good bishop, perhaps his Life of Christ which is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of medieval squabbles over relics and pilgrimages to the holy site. I bet Archbiship Sheen is getting a good laugh over this. He came to my Diocese in the 1970's for a short controversial tenure. Although very much loved by the people he was considered a poor administrator by his priests. He sold the Bishops mansion and lived in an apartment. He wanted to sell a declining inner city parish property for much needed housing. We still have the Bishop Sheen Housing Foundation doing that work today. He left sadly on a sour note. It was not a good fit for a man of his talents. I see some irony in this battle to find his final home.
ReplyDeleteHe was ahead of his times in many ways - but that is really just a cliche - it demonstrates his heroic virtue and the reason he is a saint. He met people - individuals where they were. He used the sacraments - not his personality - to minister to them. He's unlike many a priest and bishop today. When he was exiled, his witness became ever more radiant. When you see that photo of him being embraced by St JPII you see his heart overflowing in gratitude and praise for having been called to follow Christ and to be found worthy to suffer for the Name. In a sense, JPII anticipated his canonization.
DeleteWell said Terry. I remember that wonderful photo and smiled as it struck me that the Venerable Bishop Sheen finally found a secure refuge until the Lord called him home. I think too that Papa Francis was lifted from obscurity/exile when St. JPII made him a cardinal. Time will tell.
DeleteIn the meantime, prayers for all.