Thursday, February 08, 2007



Fulton Sheen and Stalin

I have heard a story recently that was very interesting though I have found no sources backing its authenticity. Nonetheless, it is a story worth telling weather true or not because it could happen this way and there is an important lesson.

The story is of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen when he was only an altar boy. One day as he was serving at Holy Mass he accidentally dropped the flask of wine and it splattered everywhere. He was distressed but the priest serving Mass told him not to worry, and that he would one day become a priest himself. Apparently Stalin (though doing research this could more likely be Hitler) was also an altar boy and was serving at Holy Mass. He did the same thing that Fulton Sheen did and dropped the wine in the flask. The Bishop celebrating Mass slapped him and told him to get out and not come back! We know the rest of the story...

I think that what we can learn from this is the effect of our seemingly small actions, that really can have bigger effects than we imagined. Can we blame this Bishop for Stalin's choices for an evil life based on this one instance? No. But we could say it played a role. Take a second to think about what effects your actions and attitudes are having on other people especially children. I am not saying we shouldn't discipline children, but that we need to know our place. This Bishop could have talked to Stalin about his carelessness and told and showed him God's loving Mercy, instead he focused on the moment.
Lord, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil! For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, Have Mercy on us and on the whole world!!!

5 comments:

EC Gefroh said...

That is some story! This is the first time I read that.

Fidei Defensor said...

There is another story about Fulton Sheen and either Khruschev or Stalin, I forget which one, though it was probably Nikata... Sheen gave a fine sermon on the evils of Communism, one of the best sermons of the 20th century, and attacked the soviet leader, who died the next day!

Anonymous said...

What an intresting story, and what a great way to get across the consequences of our smallest actions.

Thanks for sharing this. In Christ,

Unknown said...

Hello,

Hope your grandmother is keeping well. i heard this story recently but in place of Stalin, was Hitler...
Subsequently found a book that has " documented accounts" and that book mentions Tito ....here's the book title and author...
The Rhetorical Leadership of Fulton J. Sheen, Norman Vincent Peale, and Billy Graham in the Age of Extremes
Timothy H. Sherwood - 15 August 2013. God bless. Agnes

Unknown said...

Our parish priest father Stephen Olds told the story to our congregation at Sunday mass a couple of weeks ago it was very moving...the power of forgiveness is extraordinary