Fulton Sheen's Wartime Prayer Book

by Fulton J. Sheen

A wartime prayerbook written for dangerous days like ours made to fit in pocket or purse! Our parents before us understood that strife is rarely far from even the best of us, and they girded themselves for warfare, actual and spiritual. Among the wisest of men who shepherded them was Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who won their hearts with his warm, engaging broadcast personality . . . but in secret he put on the armor of God. World War II thrust temptation, fear, danger, and death on the men and women Archbishop Sheen had formed through his popular radio shows in the 1930s. Knowing that many of his listeners were now beyond the sound of his voice, fighting and dying on battlefields afar, he wrote this pocket-size prayerbook so that they, too, could put on the armor of God as they faced their new trials, physical and spiritual. Recently, a friend showed us his tattered World War II copy. We recognized immediately that with the new dangers we face since September 11, the time had come to draft this old prayer book back into service. Yes, its for soldiers (and you should send it to every soldier you know so he will have it in his breast pocket when he needs it); but its for you and me, too. Archbishop Sheen knew that no matter what our circumstances may be, the deadliest enemy we face is armed not with a gun but with temptation. In dangerous, uncertain times like ours, the Devil lures us quickly into lust, anger, hatred, and despair. Fulton Sheens Wartime Prayer Book will help keep you from these vices so that you, too, can put on the armor of God and triumph over evil in our day.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Christianity, Christian

182 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Fulton John Sheen was an American bishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois, in 1919, Sheen quickly became a renowned theologian, earning the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923. He went on to teach theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and served as a parish priest before he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in 1951. He held this position until 1966 when he was made bishop of the Diocese of Rochester in New York. He resigned as bishop of Rochester in 1969 as his 75th birthday approached and was made archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales.
For 20 years as "Father Sheen", later monsignor, he hosted the night-time radio program The Catholic Hour on NBC (1930–1950) before he moved to television and presented Life Is Worth Living (1952–1957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968) with a format that was very similar to that of the earlier Life Is Worth Living show. For that work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks. His contribution to televised preaching resulted in Sheen often being called one of the first televangelists.
The cause for his canonization was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues," a major step towards beatification, and he is now referred to as venerable. On July 5, 2019, Pope Francis approved a reputed miracle that occurred through the intercession of Sheen, clearing the way for his beatification. Sheen was scheduled to be beatified in Peoria on December 21, 2019, but his beatification was postponed after Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester expressed concern that Sheen's handling of a 1963 sexual misconduct case against a priest might be cited unfavorably in a forthcoming report from the New York Attorney General. The Diocese of Peoria countered that Sheen's handling of the case had already been "thoroughly examined" and "exonerated" and that Sheen had "never put children in harm's way".

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very interesting read especially in this day and age. For weather we like it or not the work is at war, a war with terrorists, a culture war, even currently a war about bathroom use. Originally composed in 1943 as The Armour of God this book is a collection of prayers, thoughts, reflections and quotes from the bible, saints and church history. In a time of ISIS and a time of gang attacks and terror attacks in Europe we need to be a people of prayer more than ever before. We can learn so much from this book written almost 75 years ago, and learn it from a man who devoted his life to prayer and teaching and was a Catholic pioneer in new media.

I have been slowly dipping my feet in the waters of Fulton Sheen's works, I know many who love listening to his old radio broadcast or watching his TV appearances but I am still a person of the written word. This is the third book by Sheen that I have read this year and I have a few more planned. But from the get go this one was very moving, and I have returned to it a few times to pray specific prayers or with specific intentions since I have finished reading it.

The chapters in the book are:
Introduction
Clearing Away the Debris
Thoughts in Wartime
Thoughts for Soldiers
Reflections on Prayer
Looking into My Soul
Encouragement
The Eucharist
The Blessed Mother
The Stations of the Cross
Basic Prayers
Morning Prayers
Evening Prayers
Occasional Prayers
Appendix

When I purchased this book I was expecting a collection of prayers, and this book is that but it is also so much more than that. I highlighted a number of passages in this book on my first read through. And here are those passages as examples of some of the wisdom and guidance found in this volume.

"There are only two philosophies of life: the Christian, which says: first the fast, then the feast; and the pagan, which says: first the feast, then the headache. In either case, there is pain. The Christian never ends with it, even if he waits until the end of time."

"I am not fighting for a freedom that means the right to do whatever I please but for a freedom that means the right to do whatever I ought. Oughtness implies Law; Law implies Intelligence; and Intelligence implies God."

"I am not fighting to preserve the kind of world we had just before this war. If I were, I would be fighting to preserve a world that produced tyrants and dictators. The new world must be a better world than that, or it is not worth fighting for."

"We do not pray in order that we may change God's Will; we pray rather to change our own."

"We do not pray that we may have good things; we pray rather that we may be good."

"Unless we have some work in hand, unless we are struggling, unless we are fighting with ourselves, we are not followers of those who "through many tribulations entered into the kingdom of God."
A fight is the very token of a Christian. He is a soldier of Christ; high or low, he is this and nothing else.
If we have triumphed over all mortal sin, then we must attack our venial sins; there is no help for it; there is nothing else to do if we would be soldiers of Jesus Christ."

"My station in life, my routine duties, my work, my family - all these are but the species of my life, which may remain unchanged; but the substance of my life, my soul, my mind, my will, my heart `transubstantiate,' stantiate,' transform them wholly into Thy service, so that through me all may know how sweet is the love of Christ. Amen."

If from these few quotes you are not intrigued enough to pick up this book I will be surprised. So I will add, this book is transformative, it will help to transform your heart, it will help to transform your will. And if you let it, it will help to transform your life and through that help you to be an agent of transformation in the world. One of the key ways it will do that is that it will inspire you to become a person of prayer, a prayer warrior for it is true as Christians, as Catholics we are all called to be in the army of God.


Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Fulton J. Sheen. As well as an author profile and interview with Tony Abbott.

(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)

[francisco barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

just a series of experpts from the bible to show the reality of what the true power of destruction can cuase. its niether pro war to push a christian agenda on a pro jesus in your face moral crusade, nor anti war for some peacenick libleral boneless stinky hippy . it defines what atheisim most possibly might be , for "there is no such thing as an atheist in a fox hole". it defines what it means to be religious and what role does any higher diety plays in our lives, a deity that has given free will. its a book that builds up spiritual needs in a person that faces great adverstiy.

i strongly suggest this book for any irrelgious person that is lost and wants some sort of direction in thier lives before they get strongly into any religuous cult. i would dare any atheist to read it and then play russian roulette.

for me persnally, as a person who has never read the bible and probably never will, its a short version with a fast-foward button that i keep my uniform.

[Angel7]

Wow!! This is quite a prayer book! Tiny at around 4.5x3 inches. Perfect to carry to Mass in my purse to pray before the service.

The first half of the book is commentary by the incredible Fulton Sheen. The rest of the book contains a wide variety of prayers and psalms for every occasion and hour of the day.

It was written in the 40s during WW2 for those in the military. But it is just as relevant today for any prayer warrior.

If you know me, you know I have collected Catholic prayer books for decades. This is definitely one of my favs!!

[sniksnak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beloved relative carried this little book wrapped in canvas to protect it across Europe and on to the Pacific. It’s not just for those in the military, but for civilians as well. I read it as a young girl and have given away every copy I’ve ever purchased until I bought this one. I gave numerous copies to friends and relatives headed for war during Vietnam and after 9-11. It’s still a magnificent little book with keen insights and wonderful prayers for all to read during these troubling times.

[Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of powerful words in this slim volume . Originally written in 1943, the book is still relevant today.

[Melissa Reagan Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic pocket-sized book chock full of wisdom, prayers and peaceful insight. Will keep this with me always

[Kevin W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two thirds of this prayer book are bullet point spiritual reflections. They’re basically copied and pasted from his previous works. Though it’s good stuff, if you’re familiar with his material already then most of these won’t be new. The collection of various prayers at the end is a great resource.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the size of this book. It fits so much wisdom in your pocket. It is full of Fulton Sheen's wisdom with simplicity that transcends it beyond the time for world wars. The personal is always at war and this book provides the comfort we seek with a flavour of Catholicism.