A novena is nine days of asking for one thing. These nine were chosen to trace the shape of his life, one theme for each evening, ending on the eve of the beatification itself. In the cathedral where he was ordained they are prayed as Holy Hours at seven o’clock. Anywhere else in the world they can be prayed in a few minutes, at whatever hour is yours.
Each day: read the theme, sit with it for as long as you can, then say the prayer below. It is the same prayer every day, which is what a novena is.
Nine evenings
In the cathedral in Peoria these are preached as Holy Hours at seven o’clock. Anywhere else, they are nine quiet evenings.
- Day oneTuesday 15 SeptemberPrayerHe kept a daily Holy Hour from his ordination to his death, and said everything else in his life grew out of it.
- Day twoWednesday 16 SeptemberEducationA doctorate at Louvain, twenty-five years teaching at the Catholic University of America, and a lifetime insisting that faith and reason are not rivals.
- Day threeThursday 17 SeptemberThe EucharistThe centre of the Holy Hour and of everything he preached about the presence of Christ.
- Day fourFriday 18 SeptemberThe CrossHe taught that suffering united to Christ is never wasted, and that there is no empty tomb without a Good Friday.
- Day fiveSaturday 19 SeptemberThe Blessed MotherConsecrated to Mary by his mother at his baptism, and again at his First Communion. His episcopal motto was Da per Matrem me venire.
- Day sixSunday 20 SeptemberThe priesthoodOrdained in Peoria in 1919. This is the day the anniversary Mass of his ordination is offered in that same cathedral.
- Day sevenMonday 21 SeptemberEvangelizationRadio, then television, then writing: he met people in the language of their own day and led them gently to Christ.
- Day eightTuesday 22 SeptemberThe missionsSixteen years leading the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, and the rosary he made so that one prayer would hold five continents. Cardinal Tagle preaches this evening in Peoria, two days before he presides at the Mass.
- Day nineWednesday 23 SeptemberHumility, and the call to sainthoodThe eve. He believed sanctity was the ordinary vocation of every baptized person, lived one faithful day at a time.
The prayer for each day
This is the official prayer of his Cause, and it is the prayer to say on all nine days.
Heavenly Father, source of all holiness,
You raise up within the Church in every age
men and women who serve with heroic love
and dedication.
You have blessed Your Church
through the life and ministry
of Your faithful servant,
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
He has written and spoken well
of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ,
and was a true instrument of the Holy Spirit
in touching the hearts of countless people.
If it be according to Your Will,
for the honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity
and for the salvation of souls,
we ask You to move the Church
to proclaim him a saint.
We ask this prayer
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
AMEN
Imprimatur + Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C., Bishop of Peoria
Text of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation
Traditionally an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be are added at the end of each day.