Please, look happy! We are in a beatification!

In the empty train car on the Metrolink ride to the St. Louis Dome, I felt completely alone. Married with four children, I rarely went anywhere alone. If I did not have someone with me, I simply stayed home. It was easier that way.

Yet…I was compelled. When I learned Fulton Sheen’s Beatification Mass would be held in St. Louis, I felt compelled to attend. I have no idea why, but I simply knew I was supposed to go. And so, once I decided to do this, I calmly waited for the plans to come, for others to tell me they were also going, and for my Catholic groups and circles to announce meeting spots. But none of that happened. Surprisingly, not even my own mother would join me—and the Dome was practically in her backyard! A devout Catholic, Mom lives 20 minutes away and she was adamant.

“The crowds…” she said. “They are expecting 50000 people! I am not good with crowds these days.”

“Crowds shmouds,” I thought remembering my mom’s anxieties. “How bad could it be?”

The answer came 10 minutes later as I entered the Dome.

Upon arrival, I had no idea where to go. I guess I had not prepared very well. Shrugging, I followed the crowd and found myself queued up with what seemed to be the other 49,999 people purported to be there. We seemed to all be heading to the Expo—through the one and only door open allowing us entrance. The Dome Folks had obviously underestimated the power of a Saint in the making. And I had underestimated my mom’s predictions of the crowds.

Wandering around the Expo, I realized the advantage of “alone.” Able to simply just be, I did not have to think or worry about anyone else. Except Jesus, of course, and the enormity of our Church body. Could alone actually be a gift of time with Jesus?

When I got to the third level, I was glad I spent the extra twenty bucks for front row club seating. Since only ticketed people were allowed on that level, I found quiet, empty halls. And an empty bathroom.

Once I settled into my seat with my honey roasted nuts, I relaxed listening to some amazing music. Wait, I recognized that song! This must be the actual band I hear sing it on the radio! (did I mention I was not prepared?) I quickly grabbed my bag to take a video. And then cringed as I peeled my bag off the sticky floor. What was that anyway? Suddenly I became aware of the cloying smell of stale beer. I guess twenty bucks didn’t get you everything. Up until now, munching nuts while watching performances, speeches and videos, it was difficult to remember the purpose of the day, Mass.

The Procession, the Relic, and the Homily

The magnitude of the occasion hit me as the procession began. My jaw dropped as hundreds and hundreds of religious, priests and bishops slowly filed down the aisle, eventually filling all the open seats on the floor. Standing the entire 45 minutes was surprisingly not difficult.

Speaking of jaws, my uncle asked me a few days later, “Weren’t you so moved by the young man carrying up the relic?”

My reply? “Truthfully? No. Not really.”

We all know by now that the relic of Fulton Sheen—his jawbone—was carried up by the young man whose life is the first miracle attributed toward Sheen’s intercession.

I explained to my uncle, “I had no idea what was happening. I did not have a program or the benefit of TV newscasters explaining what was happening.”

Yes, I had to swallow a big dose of humility as I realized I had witnessed something momentous and because I was completely oblivious to what was happening, I could not tell a great story about it.

“Blessed, Fortunate, Happy. Please, look happy! We are in a beatification!” Cardinal Luis Tagle, official papal representative, certainly got my attention when he said these words in the homily.

He then focused on two aspects of blessedness: “communion with Jesus and communion with persons, especially the poor and the vulnerable, in the name of Jesus Christ.” Reminding us of Pope Leo’s description of the archbishop as “a tireless preacher of the Gospel through the modern means of communication, and a diligent shepherd animated by missionary zeal.”

I loved the story the Cardinal told about how he was once asked by a friend why he became a priest. Sheen replied, "I was called to tell this story, the Gospel, the story of Jesus. I never tire of telling it. I never tire of improving my telling of it. I love my calling.”

Modern means of communication. Diligent. Animated by missionary zeal. Humor. Love of Jesus. Daily Holy Hours. Prolific writer, speaker, personality. All of these descriptions helped me get to know Blessed Fulton Sheen more fully. I came to realize why I was compelled to attend. Don’t get me wrong, I do not expect to have 40 million watching me on television, nor will I speak in front of thousands. However, I will look to him as an example of telling the story of Jesus, animated with missionary zeal, humor and love.

He was fearless. Being a faithful and fearless Christian sometimes makes us feel we are alone. But if this day has taught me anything, it is that with Jesus and the communion of the Church, we are never really alone, are we?

Margaret Gartlgruber longs to help women trade guilt for grace and know: You are enough! God delights not in your accomplishments but in YOU simply being you! Mom, wife, author, blogger, speaker, lay RC member, Margaret has published chapters in books: Cloud of Witnesses – St. Monica, and Crowned with Grace – Our Lady of Fatima. Read her blog: https://ruledbybananas.com/ and get free 15 Simple Morning Prayers.

Image Credit: Photo by May Respicio. Used with permission.