The Cross & The Crib. When Calvary Becomes The Nursery

By Allan Smith and Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

The Cross & The Crib.   When Calvary Becomes the Nursery.

A Journey of Discovery with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

In this special collection of writings, Archbishop Sheen presents an array of meditations on Our Blessed Lord's words spoken from the Cross; "Woman behold your son; behold your Mother (John 19:26-27)."

This anthology contains sixteen reflections taken from nine of Sheen's best-selling books.  These meditations offer insightful perspectives regarding the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in salvation history, and the theology behind the term "spiritual adoption".

 

1. Woman, Behold thy Son; Behold thy Mother
2. The Value of Ignorance  
3. Thy Kingdom Come
4. The Secret of Sanctity
5. The Sanctus
6. The Fellowship of Religion
7. Blessed are the Clean of Heart
8. Confidence in Victory
9. Suffering of the Innocent
10. Religion is a Quest
11. Lust
12. The Hour
13. Prudence
14. The Purpose of Life
15. A Word to the Selfish
16. When Calvary Becomes the Nursery

 

As the reader ponders these reflections, they might have to pause for a moment or two over a sentence that is full of deep meaning that stirs the heart. They will find that throughout the book, Archbishop Sheen has an easy and personable manner in expressing the clear teaching of the truths of Christ and His Church.  This journey of discovery is sure to please, as Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen shares his insights, on how in each soul, 'Calvary can become the Nursery'.  

Archbishop Sheen's dynamic personality combined with his brilliant mind, tireless pen, and eloquent voice has made him one of the best-known figures in the world. His radio and television appearances have been phenomenally successful and are still viewed today. His books and magazine articles continue to gratify and attract a boundless circle of readers. This collection of meditations gives still another example of why this continues to be so today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Allan Smith
• Release date: Jun 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781990427503

Book preview

The Cross

&

The Crib 

When Calvary

Becomes

The Nursery

A Journey of Discovery With

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Allan Smith

Copyright © 2021 by Al Smith

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

Bishop Sheen Today

280 John Street Midland,

Ontario, Canada L4R 2J5

www.bishopsheentoday.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979, author. | Smith, Al (Allan J.), editor. | Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979. Cross and the Beatitudes. | Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979. Rainbow of sorrow. | Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979. Seven last words. | Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979. Seven virtues. | Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979. Seven words of Jesus and Mary. | Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979. Seven words to the Cross. | Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979. Victory over vice. | Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979. Cross and the Beatitudes.

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Title: The Cross & the Crib.  When Calvary becomes the nursery.  A journey of discover with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen; compiled by Allan Smith.

Description: Midland, Ontario: Bishop Sheen Today Publishing, 2021. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: paperback ISBN 978-1-990427-51-0 /

e-Book ISBN 978-1-6990427-50-3 

Subjects: LCSH: Jesus Christ — Seven last words.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Old and New Testaments.

To Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, in humble petition that, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the world may find its way back to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

With filial gratitude and affection, I dedicate this publication to these two Holy Hearts, which overflow with love and mercy for all mankind.

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam - (For the greater glory of God)

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Reflections that transformed the hearts and minds of millions all over the world, written by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, on the seven last words of Christ.

From the central cross on Calvary come the answers for overcoming sin and brokenness. Those who will take these meditations to heart will find hope, healing, and restoration.

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Jesus calls all His children to the pulpit of the Cross, and every word He says to them is set down for the purpose of an eternal publication and undying consolation. 

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There was never a preacher like the dying Christ. 

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There was never a congregation like that which gathered about the pulpit of the Cross. 

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And there was never a sermon like the Seven Last Words.

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Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST

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The First Word

"Father, Forgive Them For They

Know Not What They Do."

The Second Word

This Day Thou Shalt Be With Me In Paradise.

The Third Word

Woman, Behold Thy Son; Behold Thy Mother.

The Fourth Word

"My God!  My God!

Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?"

The Fifth Word

I Thirst.

The Sixth Word

It Is Finished.

The Seventh Word

"Father, Into Thy Hands

I Commend My Spirit."

CONTENTS

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INTRODUCTION

WOMAN BEHOLD THY SON

THE VALUE OF IGNORANCE

THY KINGDOM COME

THE SECRET OF SANCTITY

THE SANCTUS

THE FELLOWSHIP OF RELIGION

BLESSED ARE THE CLEAN OF HEART

CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY

THE SUFFERING OF THE INNOCENT

RELIGION IS A QUEST

LUST

THE HOUR

PRUDENCE

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE

THE SELFISH

WHEN CALVARY BECOMES THE NURSERY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BIBLIOGRAPHY NOTES

INTRODUCTION

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Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was a man for all seasons. Over his lifetime, he spent himself for souls, transforming lives with the clear teaching of the truths of Christ and His Church through his books, his radio addresses, his lectures, his television series, and his many newspaper columns.

The topics of this much-sought-after lecturer ranged from the social concerns of the day to matters of faith and morals. With an easy and personable manner, Sheen could strike up a conversation on just about any subject, making numerous friends as well as converts.

During the 1930s and ’40s, Fulton Sheen was the featured speaker on The Catholic Hour radio broadcast, and millions of listeners heard his radio addresses each week. His topics ranged from politics and the economy to philosophy and man’s eternal pursuit of happiness.

Along with his weekly radio program, Sheen wrote dozens of books and pamphlets. One can safely say that through his writings, thousands of people changed their perspectives about God and the Church. Sheen was quoted as saying, There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.

Possessing a burning zeal to dispel the myths about Our Lord and His Church, Sheen gave a series of powerful presentations on Christ’s Passion and His seven last words from the Cross. As a Scripture scholar, Archbishop Sheen knew full well the power contained in preaching Christ crucified. With St. Paul, he could say, For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).

During his last recorded Good Friday address in 1979, Archbishop Sheen spoke of having given this type of reflection on the subject of Christ’s seven last words from the cross for the fifty-eighth consecutive time. Whether from the young priest in Peoria, Illinois, the university professor in Washington, D.C., or the bishop in New York, Sheen’s messages were sure to make an indelible mark on his listeners.

Along with Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s great love for preaching about the power of the cross, he professed great love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and often spoke of his devotion to her.  As a tribute to the Mother of God, when being consecrated as a Bishop in 1951, he added to his coat of arms the words ‘Da Per Matrem Me Venire’, meaning: ‘That I may come to Jesus through His Mother.’

He wrote many books about the Blessed Virgin Mary including The Seven Words of Jesus and Mary (1945) and The World’s First Love (1952).  It seemed that he never missed an opportunity to talk about her and to recommend that his audience goes to her whenever they needed help.

Now for some, entertaining the thought of having the Blessed Virgin Mary as their mother might sound a little far-fetched.  Yes, Mary is the biological Mother of Jesus but how could she become anyone else’s mother?  And how could anyone love this mother that lives in heaven and we cannot see?

For many Catholics all over the world, this tradition of accepting Mary as their mother and trusting in her ‘heavenly influence’ comes naturally. But for others, including this author, a better explanation would have to be given, before we would be willing to accept such teaching.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was aware of the reservations people had towards the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Sheen addressed the prejudices, misconceptions, and the lack of understanding of who the Blessed Mother is during his many radio addresses, lectures and television broadcasts.

In the pages that will follow in this anthology, you will find fifteen short sermons that will take you on a ‘journey of discovery’ that will give the reader a new and fresh perspective on the Blessed Virgin Mary and the role she played in salvation history.

These meditations will speak to the Seven Last Words that Jesus spoke from His Cross on Calvary and correlate them to the seven recorded times that the Blessed Virgin Mary spoke in the scriptures. The Words are not necessarily related to all the words she said but they do make convenient points of illustrations.

This book has only one aim: to awaken a love for the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to incite a greater appreciation for the Blessed Virgin Mary.  If it does that in but one soul, its publication has been justified.

WOMAN BEHOLD THY SON

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An angel of light went out from the great white Throne of Light and descended over the plains of Esdraelon, past the daughters of the great kingdoms and empires, and came to where a humble virgin of Nazareth knelt in prayer, and said, Hail, full of grace! These were not words; they were the Word. And the Word became flesh. This was the first Annunciation.

Nine months passed and once more an angel from that great white Throne of Light came down to shepherds on Judean hills, teaching them the joy of a Gloria in Excelsis, and bidding them worship Him Whom the world could not contain, a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Eternity became time, Divinity incarnate, God a man; Omnipotence was discovered in bonds. In the language of Saint Luke, Mary brought forth her first-born Son . . .and laid Him in a manger. This was the first Nativity.

Then came Nazareth and the carpenter shop where one can imagine the Divine Boy, straitened until baptized with a baptism of blood, fashioning a little cross in anticipation of a great Cross that would one day be His on Calvary. One can also imagine Him in the evening of a day of labor at the bench, stretching out His arms in exhausted relaxation, whilst the setting sun traced on the opposite wall the shadow of a man on a cross. One can, too, imagine His Mother seeing in each nail the prophecy and the tell-tale of a day when men would carpenter to a Cross the One who carpentered the universe.

Nazareth passed into Calvary and the nails of the shop into the nails of human malignity. From the Cross, He completed His last will and testament. He had already committed His blood to the Church, His garments to His enemies, a thief to Paradise, and would soon commend His body to the grave and His soul to His Heavenly Father. To whom, then, could He give the two treasures which He loved above all others, Mary and John? He would bequeath them to one another, giving at once a son to His Mother and a Mother to His friend. Woman! It was the second Annunciation! The midnight hour, the silent room, the ecstatic prayer had given way to the Mount of Calvary, the darkened sky, and a Son hanging on a Cross. Yet, what consolation! It was only an angel who made the first Annunciation, but it is God's own sweet voice, which makes the second.

Behold thy son! It was the second Nativity! Mary had brought forth her First-born without labor, in the cave of Bethlehem; she now brings forth her second-born, John, in the labors of the Cross. At this moment Mary is undergoing the pains of childbirth, not only for her second-born, who is John, but also for the millions who will be born to her in Christian ages as Children of Mary. Now we can understand why Christ was called her First-born. It was not because she was to have other children by the blood of flesh, but because she was to have other children by the blood of her heart. Truly, indeed, the Divine condemnation against Eve is now renewed against the new Eve, Mary, for she is bringing forth her children in sorrow.

Mary, then, is not only the Mother of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, but she is also our Mother, and this not by a title of courtesy, not by legal fiction, not by a mere figure of speech, but by the right of bringing us forth in sorrow at the foot of the Cross. It was by weakness and disobedience at the foot of