Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Books and Author Love: Fulton Sheen






I've been reading Life of Christ and From the Angel's Blackboard and Three to Get Married by Venerable Fulton Sheen. Every time I check out a book by him from the library, eventually I end up buying it. We already have several of his books, and it looks like we just can't seem to have enough of him. Not only is he a wonderful writer (I think he's a poet at heart) but his teaching is always clear and beautiful.

I urge you to take a look at some of his works. Much of it is free, but I can guarantee you'll want your own personal copies of books to highlight and scribble in.

If you prefer to listen, you can download MP3 files. Lots of great topics from the philosophy of life to the mystery of sex to the necessity of wasted lives, and much, much more.

He is a gift to the Church! Pray for us, Blessed Fulton Sheen.

Here are some quotes. Although they are all taken out of context, they still pack a punch. Enjoy.

The essence of prayer is not the effort to make God give us something. Prayer, then, is not just informing God of our needs, for God already knows them. Rather, the purpose of prayer is to give God the opportunity to bestow the gifts He will give us when we are ready to accept them.

Nothing ever happens in the world that does not first happen inside a mind. When one meditates and fills the mind for an hour a day with thoughts and resolutions bearing on the love of God and neighbor above all things, there is a gradual seepage of love down to the level of what is called the subconscious, and finally these good thoughts emerge, of themselves, in the form of effortless good actions.

Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.

Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into some hearts is to break them.

We are more often tempted to do good than we are to do evil and it is a temptation
that we don't often enough give into.


God love you!

5 comments:

Faith E. Hough said...

I love the quote about breaking hearts... It's interesting, when you consider the reference in Exodus to God "hardening Pharoah's heart." When it comes down to it, allowing ours to break is a gift. (And it makes sense why we authors have to put our characters through so much, no?)

Vijaya said...

Faith, that quote brought tears to my eyes. And I didn't make the connection between hardening vs. breaking. Yes, it's a gift.

And yes to the writing! We get to play God for a change and it has given me greater appreciation for all the unknowns in my own life ...

KatieC said...

Fantastic! I've never seen any of his works. I will definitely need to check them out :).

Unknown said...

The quote about nun's confessions made me laugh. EWTN used to present "Life is Worth Living" every morning before the Mass. I miss my daily dose of Fulton Sheen!

Vijaya said...

Katie, he is an amazing writer. You will not be disappointed. You can start with something like Angel's Blackboard or Life is Worth Living.

Gary, you can get your daily dose on the computer now :)