Storm Heaven

If you've been reading this blog much, you are very familiar with the fact that I love Venerable Fulton J. Sheen.  I respect the life that he led, admire his passion for the spreading the Gospel, find wisdom in his words, and believe that he is in heaven right now before the throne of God interceding for us.

That personal admiration turned into a personal challenge last year when I decided to share his life with my 5th grade students.  What started as a short term project turned into a life changing experience because of the connection that my students developed with Sheen.  The impact that he made on them motivated me to stretch and grow the idea of this curriculum, and then encouraged me to share it with others, hoping that other classrooms would have the same experience introducing Fulton Sheen and his relevant teachings to youth.

One classroom that took advantage of that opportunity is located just across the river from my school in Peoria.  In particular, their 6th grade religion class has been learning about the life of Fulton Sheen and discovering their religion content through his eyes.  Amazingly, this group of kids has formed a bond to Fulton Sheen that sounds very similar to what my kids have experienced.  Their teacher, Sarah, says that the kids love him and have an incredibly strong devotion to him.  Daily since the beginning of school, they have been praying for his canonization and asking for his prayers for them.  They have been especially interested in investigating the canonization process, researching his first alleged miracle, and wondering what the second needed miracle will be.

On Tuesday, one of the students in that 6th grade class, a girl named Samantha who especially loves Fulton Sheen, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ewings Sarcoma.  It has spread throughout her body, and her family is asking for prayer.  They are specifically asking for prayer through the intercession of Fulton Sheen.  She loves Fulton Sheen, and I know that Fulton Sheen loves her, too.  And we certainly know that Christ loves her.

Please join me in asking our Lord for a miracle for Samantha, and lets ask her friend Fulton Sheen to pray, too.  Together, we can all storm heaven.

Eternal Father, You alone grant us every blessing in Heaven and on earth, through the redemptive mission of  Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and by the working of  the Holy Spirit. If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, by granting the favor I now request through his prayerful intercession: the complete healing of Samantha from cancer and the return of her health. I make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ,our Lord.  Amen.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ~Hebrews 4:16