I have read three of Bishop Sheen’s books now – Peace of soul, Life of Christ, and now Victory over vice.
Though these books are all different in purpose, there remains a consistency in style which I cherish. I’m not a writer but I will try to describe Bishop Sheen’s style as slightly ornate, ‘scriptural style’, slightly baroque, old-school strict priest/preacher type, adorned significantly with allegories and metaphors; think almost (but not quite exactly) like reading the King James Bible. He doesn’t intend to be nice, so he is firm, clear, precise, and penetrating with language. If that is your cup of tea, then you are in for a deep and profound call to repentance, which may very much change your life for good. But then also I suspect that this would not be the case for many in this present time. It seems most people today prefer the outgoing, smiling, contemporary and quintessential American personality of a Fr Mike Schmitz and the likes. I recognise that they too are carrying out God’s work albeit in a way most relatable to the audience today, and I thank God for this. But for some reason I prefer a teacher like Bishop Sheen, not only for his old school style, but also for his giftedness in synthesizing and integrating both psychology and philosophy to enrich his message. This gives his work a slight intellectual orientation, which I resound deeply with, but then again, which may not be fully appreciated by some today.
Victory over vice is essentially a profound exhortation to avoid the seven deadly sins. As usual, and in keeping with his style described above, Sheen is deep, creative, profound, and penetrative with words, synthesizing logic, philosophy, and psychology, - all fully blended and immersed in scripture, to make a strong coherent case against these vices, and then inviting readers to repentance, and to love God, who in turn would lift them above the desires of the flesh – to happiness and peace of soul.
This is definitely a book you read multiple times throughout your life, especially at times when you need to intensify your devotion and prayer.