Jesus’ Miracles & Fulton Sheen’s Required Faith

Letter to Ephesians: Miracles still happen. And beautified Fulton Sheen is one step closer to Sainthood because of the Church’s recognizing his 2010 miraculous intercession on behalf of a Peoria baby born without breathing or a heartbeat for 61 minutes…

As Jesus instructed His disciples, seeing is not always necessary to believing; but here’s what the Church saw in beautifying Sheen in St. Louis on September 24, 2026: James Engstrom was “born” in the middle Illinois town without a detectable heartbeat or respiration. During delivery, a knot in mom’s umbilical cord had tightened, cutting off James’ oxygen supply. Witnesses say a medical team fervently worked to resuscitate him for slightly over an hour. Meanwhile, James’ dad baptized him and other relatives & friends prayed just as fervently for the “intercession” of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Suddenly, the baby’s heart began beating loud & clear. Even more amazing, doctors now say, is James’ recovery without the severe brain or other neurological damage ordinarily expected from a such prolonged absence of circulation & oxygen. Eventually, he lived to enjoy what the Church would call “perfect health” as a teen, playing basketball, bicycling & studying meteorology. In short, James’ experience mirrored Lazarus’ resurrection & subsequent productive life at the hands of Jesus Himself. James didn’t just seem dead, went into life-sustaining hypothermia shock & came back to life thanks to great medics; but his complete recovery, like Lazarus, was instantaneous, medically inexplicable & durable.

The Church of course isn’t saying Sheen performed the miracle as did the living Jesus with Lazarus, but thru his asking God in Heaven for help. For those who faithfully watched Sheen’s radio & TV sermons over the years & before his own death in 1979, they wouldn’t be surprised the evangelist thereby helped convert thousands to the Faith. In doing so, Sheen reportedly insisted he was just a “porter” or intercessor who opened the door for others to see the truth & beauty of God. In at least one sense, the evidence needed to anoint anyone a Saint, is far tougher than getting the US Supreme Court to favor a litigant before it. The Church typically requires at least one more such laboriously tested miracle. Many FAITHFULS have no doubt the Highest Court of All, now considering 6 more instances attributable to his intercession, will ultimately rule in Saint Sheen’s favor.

Davd Soul