Lexington Books
Pages: 168
Trim: 6 x 9¼
978-0-7391-4261-5 • Hardback • March 2010 • $97.00 • (£75.00)
978-0-7391-4262-2 • Paperback • November 2011 • $46.99 • (£36.00)
978-0-7391-4263-9 • eBook • March 2010 • $44.50 • (£34.00)
Father Timothy Sherwood is pastor of St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, FL.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. Pulpit and Homiletics
2. Audience and Message
3. Truth and Consequences
Few preachers have stirred souls and moved hearts as did Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. I am happy to recommend Father Timothy Sherwood's The Preaching of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. He does a splendid job of focusing on the Archbishop's preaching, rhetorical skill, and Christian vision. A good read of this book will help everyone understand how and why Archbishop Sheen influenced generations of American Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
— Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York
Finally, we have a book that examines Sheen's preaching style in detail. Sheen made a significant, but mainly unexplored, contribution to American rhetoric. It is especially interesting that Sherwood focuses on the Good Friday sermons. This is a treasure for researchers because the sermons span five decades of his preaching in New York City that have never been examined before. An enjoyable and scholarly read, Sherwood places Sheen's rhetoric in the context of Cold War America, sharing insights on the persuasive interaction between speaker and audience and providing the key to Sheen's immense popularity.
— Christopher Lynch, Kean University, author of Selling Catholicism: Bishop Sheen and the Power of Television
One welcome aspect of Sherwood’s book is its reminder of just how substantive Fulton Sheen’s messages were-over the airwaves and from the pulpit. While sheen tailored his messages to appeal to broad audiences, he could never be accused of preaching to the “itching of ears”.
Sherwood demonstrates Sheen’s proclivity for drawing parallels between characters and events in the bible with those of his own day.
In 1956, Bishop Fulton Sheen appeared as a guest on the TV show What’s My Line? Timothy Sherwood’s book makes clear that the correct answer to that question was “Preacher.” For that, Sherwood is to be commended.
— Books and Culture