Venerable (soon-to-be-Blessed) Fulton J. Sheen

Once I started working on special edition items to make for the momentous occasion of Archbishop Sheen's beatification coming up this September, it quickly became clear to me how much I love this man and how amazing this opportunity is. A memory came to my mind recently of baby Catholic Tricia (I was in my 20's) watching EWTN re-runs of Life is Worth Living and being utterly captivated. Never could I have imagined that twenty-something years later I would be designing items for his beatification. God is so incredible! 

Lately my friend Ven. Fulton Sheen has been appearing here and there, surprising and delighting me with his holy insights and accessible wisdom. Case in point: I picked up the lovely book The Power of the Rosary by fellow Houstonian and UST alum Gabriel Castillo (after searching through boxes from our recent move), and he has a reference there in the beginning chapter from our friend Fulton Sheen describing Our Lady's role during her Son's Passion, wherein a single lance was used to pierce two hearts. My husband also recently came back from a work trip with a used book by Fulton Sheen on the Sacraments that he found in a sale going on at his mom's parish. There are other little examples — he's just very present to me right now and I am relishing it. Isn't it just incredible to consider the spiritual reality of all these holy people and God's angels working/praying for all of us on our journey? Ah, my heart!

↑ Super neat book my husband picked up at a parish library sale

For the upcoming Beatification of our beloved American Archbishop, I've created a limited edition prayer candle, a 5x7 portrait, a metallic-accented holy card, a woven patch, handmade felt pennants, a few stickers, and I'm working on an illustration of the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria as a poster/addition to the 2027 calendar I have in the works. (By the way NO AI was used!) I'm particularly excited about the candles, because the labels are printed on a material I haven't used before and it is SO fun. As always, the fact that people will use these candles to pray for the intercession of our friend Ven. Sheen really gets me right in the feels.

↓ Sneak peek at some things I've made for the Beatification this September

So stay tuned for the Fulton J. Sheen collection coming soon, depending on how things go in St. Louis and Peoria this September! For sure keep an eye out for pre-orders of the 2027 Pilgrimage Calendar slated to go live in October some time. In the meantime, God love you! :)

Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, ora pro nobis!