From the Editor Emeritus / John F. Fink

My first encounter with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Let me tell you about an event involving Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and me. It happened 63 years ago this week, on May 30, 1955. That was Memorial Day, a Monday, but also the day when my first wife, Marie, graduated from Rosemont College, an all-women’s college in Philadelphia. It was also the day before we got married, for reasons that are irrelevant to this story.

Archbishop Sheen was the commencement speaker for the graduation. At the time, he was undoubtedly the best known Catholic in the country because of his television programs. He was also a great friend of Rosemont, giving retreats there frequently. He always gave the commencement address and handed out the diplomas.

Marie was scheduled to receive her diploma fairly early in the roll call since the women were called up alphabetically by their academic major. Marie majored in chemistry. Archbishop Sheen was seated on the stage, and each young woman knelt (or genuflected) to receive her diploma.

As Marie’s name was called, the priest who was handing the diplomas to Archbishop Sheen leaned over and told him that Marie was to be married the next day. Archbishop Sheen delayed Marie.

“You’re getting married tomorrow?” he asked.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Is your fiancé here today?” the archbishop asked.

Marie acknowledged that I was. So Archbishop Sheen stood up and called, “Is Mr. Fink in the audience?”

I walked down to join Marie and Archbishop Sheen. We both knelt before him while he gave us a short private talk about marriage, telling us that the relationship between husband and wife should be the same as that between Jesus and his Church. It wasn’t a long talk, but he had interrupted the commencement ceremony to do it. After he spoke to us, he told me to lead Marie off the stage.

The school photographer was alert enough not to miss this opportunity to take several pictures. We were glad to have them, of course, but one of the photos of us kneeling in front of Archbishop Sheen showed that I had two big holes in the soles of my shoes.

After Marie and I left the stage and the ceremony continued, every other graduating senior who was engaged told Archbishop Sheen, and each time he stopped the ceremony and called the young man to the stage. Some of the men were somewhat surprised to learn that they were engaged.

That incident is recounted in Thomas Reeves’ biography of Archbishop Sheen. He wrote, “He interrupted the ceremony by announcing the marriage, the next day, of a graduate, calling the young man to the stage and giving an impromptu sermon on Christian marriage.”

About 10 years after this happened, I happened to see Archbishop Sheen at a meeting of the U.S. bishops and I asked if he remembered that graduation. He assured me that he did. Furthermore, he said, the following year when he was again the commencement speaker, he announced before the ceremony that he would be glad to give his blessing to any of the young ladies and their fiancés—after the ceremony. †