Bl. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s “What it Takes to Get into Heaven“

“What it Takes to Get into Heaven“

Many of us remember Sunday evenings spent watching Bishop Fulton J. Sheen for 30 minutes on live television, with only a chalkboard as a prop.

ABC News said it would be a flop, as he was up against serious competition. He ended up with the most viewers, to the amazement of ABC's top network bosses.

Among the timeless radio and television broadcasts of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, few themes captivated his audience as deeply as the human soul's final destiny. Sheen possessed a rare ability to translate profound Catholic theology into practical, urgent wisdom for everyday life. In his celebrated discourses on salvation, eternity, and the spiritual life, Sheen often outlined the essential dispositions a soul needs to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

1. Sanctifying Grace and Faith

Sheen emphasized that Heaven is not merely a place, but a relationship - a participation in the divine life of the Trinity. To enter Heaven, a person must possess sanctifying grace, the supernatural gift that aligns the human soul with God. Faith is the doorway through which this grace enters, allowing us to trust God's truth and surrender our intellect to His divine will. The Catholic Church defines faith as a supernatural gift from God and a free human act by which we completely submit our intellect and will to God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC1814) specifically defines it as “the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself.” 

2. Sincere Repentance and Reconciliation

"Nothing unclean will enter Heaven," Sheen often reminded his listeners. Because human beings fall into sin, salvation demands continuous repentance. To be fit for Heaven, a soul must harbor genuine sorrow for sin, seek God’s mercy - particularly through Sacramental Confession - and willingly detach itself from worldly vices and selfish desires. We have spoken about the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in past blogs, and now use Fulton Sheen to reemphasize how essential it is to your eternal salvation.

3. Active Charity (Love of God and Neighbor)

For Sheen, love is the ultimate currency of eternity. Citing First Corinthians, he noted that while faith and hope belong to our earthly pilgrimage, charity alone endures in Heaven. True charity is active:  it manifests in loving God above all things and serving one’s neighbor through corporal and spiritual works of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, comforting the afflicted, and forgiving those who trespass against us. Jesus teaching could be summed up in two words: forgiveness and love. When was the last time you confessed your bad behavior to a priest in the confessional?

4. Daily Prayer and Union with God

Sheen famously preached on the necessity of an intimate, daily relationship with Jesus Christ. He famously practiced and promoted a daily "Holy Hour" of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. A soul cannot expect to enjoy eternal communion with God in Heaven if it has consistently ignored Him on Earth. Prayer prepares the heart for the sight of God. If you can not get to daily Mass, spend some quality time with Jesus and His Mother praying for your intentions and your family’s peace and health. If you need the Image shown below, we will send you an 8x10 full-color image as shown for your Domestic Church Prayer place. Invite your family to join you before or after dinner in place of one TV show. 

5. Humility and Self-Surrender

Humility is the foundation of all spiritual growth. Sheen warned against spiritual pride, pointing out that Heaven belongs to those who recognize their own unworthiness and rely entirely on Christ's redemption. Entering Heaven requires surrendering our self-will, embracing humility, and recognizing that any good we achieve comes from God’s grace working through us. Be humble, be still, and be quiet.

6. Willingness to Carry One's Cross (Fortitude)

Salvation demands endurance and fortitude. Sheen reminded Christians that discipleship involves embracing suffering and uniting one’s daily trials with the Cross of Christ. Suffering, when borne patiently and offered up in union with Our Lord, purifies the soul and conforms it to the Savior's image.

Archbishop Sheen’s overarching message was simple yet profound:  Heaven is the continuation of a life already aligned with God. By cultivating these six elements - grace, repentance, love, prayer, humility, and perseverance - the soul becomes fit to live forever in the presence of God.

Now, it is up to you to embrace these six necessary behaviors and make some changes in your life.

Peace.