Future Saint Fulton Sheen

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That venue is WAY too small. Blessed Solanus Casey’s beatification nearly filled Ford Field.

I’m wondering if they’re planning to only invite VIPs?
 
Yeah, the cathedral in Peoria can probably only fit about 1,000 people. I can’t imagine that it’s going to be open invitation. There would easily be 10 or 20 times the cathedral’s capacity that would show up if it was open to everyone.

I am guessing it had something to do with coordinating a date with Rome that was still in 2019 for the 100th anniversary of Sheen’s ordination to the priesthood. Maybe it just didn’t work out to secure a larger venue.
 
Perhaps they’re expecting a quick canonization. I guess for that they would either get a sports arena or we’d all have to go stand around in the square in Rome 🙂

Between the teeny venue and its being in December and probably bad weather, I have a feeling I’ll be watching this one on EWTN. Which will likely provide a better view anyway.
 
My mom had seen on EWTN shortly after Sheen’s body made it to Peoria that Bishop Jenky stated he was hoping for the beatification to happen in September on the actual centenary of his ordination. Obviously that didn’t happen. I just presumed that the people in Rome aren’t beholden to our American timetables. 😝 But it did seem important to Jenky that it happen this year.

I suppose they want to also make sure that Sheen’s niece is still alive to be there.
 
As one commentor noted, though, perhaps the most fitting thing about the decision is how it means practically everyone will be left to watch the rites on TV: the medium that arguably made Sheen the 20th century’s most significant and beloved American cleric.
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I liked this observation. Very true. 🙂
 
Well, the Arena there holds 11,000plus, but is booked, so more likely due to the desire to celebrate it in 2019.
 
11,000 wouldn’t even begin to cover the number who would want to attend.

The relatively unknown Blessed Stanley Rother overflowed a 15,000 capacity convention center.
 
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I need to be about 90 miles away in the quad cities around that same time, so if I could get the money to leave early to go to it that would be nice.
 
I know, we were there. I can understand the desire to have the celebration there, however.
 
Yes, the more I think about it, the more I can see how huge it could be if given the space. Detroit practically filled a 70,000 person stadium for Bl. Solanus Casey a couple years ago. Fulton Sheen is probably the most high profile person to be beatified in the United States, perhaps ever. I’m sure they could pull in 100,000 attendees if space were not a constraint.

I’m not sure there are any facilities that large in the Diocese of Peoria. There are no pro-sports teams. There are some big universities with football stadiums. The one in Champaign seats 60,000. That would probably be the biggest that I can think of.
 
Joe_5859 said:
I suppose they want to also make sure that Sheen’s niece is still alive to be there.
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Agreed. Now a second miracle, post-beatification has to happen, and then investigated. I believe his niece is in her 90s?
 
AngelaMarie said:
I have thought all canonizations are at the Vatican?
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No. Sts. Francisco and Jacinta Marto for example were canonized at Fatima.

It is more regular for them to be at the Vatican however, partly because groups of saints from different countries are all canonized at once and it’s a bit hard for the Pope to play favorites.
 
I didnt know that. Thank you. I wonder if they were more of an exception than the rule since they were the visionaries of Fatima.

I would be surprised if Sheen, when the time comes, is canonized in Peoria
 
Most canonizations take place in Rome because because they are being added to the universal calendar (just as most beatifications take place in the local diocese because their feast is only celebrated in that particular locale). There are definitely exceptions to that, though, as Bear noted above.
 
For anybody who wants to “request a ticket” to the Sheen shenanigans, which now include a holy hour beforehand, a Mass of Thanksgiving, and “select remote viewing sites in Peoria” as well as the actual Beatification, go to celebratesheen.com , scroll to the bottom and put in your RSVP now. The link just went live this evening. I put mine in just now, let’s see what we get. (If anything)

Also they say they will be “live streaming” the beatification. I hope EWTN will still be carrying it. Live streams in my experience tend to be wonky and given how fast this is being planned, I’ll bet you dollars to donuts something will go haywire with this one.
 
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