At Issue with Mark Welp
An Emotional Moment at Fulton Sheen’s Beatification
Clip: Season 4 Episode 6 | 2m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Allan Smith recalls James Fulton Engstrom’s moving role in Sheen’s beatification ceremony.
Allan Smith recalls an emotional highlight of Fulton Sheen’s beatification: James Fulton Engstrom carrying a relic before the crowd in St. Louis. Speaking with Mark Welp, Smith reflects on the teenager whose recovery was recognized as the miracle in Sheen’s cause and why seeing him participate in the ceremony was so meaningful.
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At Issue with Mark Welp is a local public television program presented by WTVP
At Issue with Mark Welp
An Emotional Moment at Fulton Sheen’s Beatification
Clip: Season 4 Episode 6 | 2m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Allan Smith recalls an emotional highlight of Fulton Sheen’s beatification: James Fulton Engstrom carrying a relic before the crowd in St. Louis. Speaking with Mark Welp, Smith reflects on the teenager whose recovery was recognized as the miracle in Sheen’s cause and why seeing him participate in the ceremony was so meaningful.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- Let's talk a little bit about the ceremony that happened last week at The Dome in St.
Louis, anywhere from 50 to 70,000 people there.
And I was watching it online and it was interesting because it almost seemed like, I was joking with you earlier about how this, you know, could be the Super Bowl for a lot of Catholics, and the telecast was almost like the Super Bowl.
You had the pregame show with the analysts and the color commentators, and it was really a nice performance and broadcast there.
But I want to know specifically for you, what was it like?
You mentioned James Engstrom, who is the center of this miracle that a lot of people believe Archbishop Sheen was involved with.
What was it like seeing him there as a now 16 year old and him also presenting a relic of Fulton Sheen in front of that big audience?
- Yeah, well, I don't think there was a dry eye in the building, including my own.
I was welling up with tears because, you know, I have a son, and you know, so I know what it's like to watch a son kind of, you know, have his moment.
And of course this was a moment for him where, you know, he's been carrying around, I like to say this badge of honor, that you know, he is the miracle boy, the boy that was healed by God.
And he always has to live with that.
But then of course that moment where he carried the jawbone of Fulton Sheen, of course that beautiful relic, the voice that came from that jawbone, but for him to process the relic in, just, you know, standing tall, and you could tell he was emotional, too.
But it's this idea of God is in the miracle business, and he's that living testimony to say, "Yeah, I came back to life."
But that moment I think is captured on film for many years.
And of course it was a family affair, the family processed.
I believe it was his brother that was helping him carry it for, you know, 'cause it was quite a long walk, you know, from, you know, I call the dressing rooms through the stadium.
And the reliquary itself was quite heavy, you know, 50, 60 pounds.
And, you know, like to carry that for that long, I mean, I admire the guys, but they're young, strapping young men.
So they're made for that.
But again, not a dry eye in the building, 'cause again, you could see it took a miracle to make this happen.
And many people say, you know when God moves through a crowd, there are tears, and they're tears of joy for many of them.
But I tell you, that was the fine moment.
I will always remember that moment where he carried in the relics.
And again, thanks be to God.
How Fulton Sheen Connected with Millions
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S4 Ep6 | 2m 27s | Allan Smith explains how Fulton Sheen captivated audiences on television and radio. (2m 27s)
What Comes Next in Fulton Sheen’s Path to Sainthood?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S4 Ep6 | 1m 3s | Allan Smith discusses potential miracles and Fulton Sheen’s next step toward sainthood. (1m 3s)
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