Below is an excerpt from the introduction to Praying in the Presence of the Lord with Fulton Sheen , edited by Michael Dubruiel, originally published in 2002.
Excerpts from the book will be published in this space over the next few weeks, in honor of Archbishop Sheen's beatification on September 24, 2026.
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Sharing in the Work of Redemption
What? Could you not watch one hour with me? — Matthew 26:40 (Douay-Rheims)
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, yet as I read them I hear them with the voice of Archbishop Sheen, who was able to bring passages such as this alive with his unique style. Also carried with his intonation is the meaning that he gave to them, that the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples some two thousand years ago in that garden on the Mount of Olives echo through- out history and are spoken again and again to each disciple — in other words, to you and to me.
The Lord asks us to watch with Him, to share in His work, which although complete on Calvary long ago is ongoing in that the tree of the cross continually bears new fruit in us, His disciples. The work of redemption then continues and will not be complete until all of us are brought to the foot of the cross and believe that Our Lord has the power to Save Us.
Our Lord speaks to us as we come into His presence and asks us to join Him.
In this section we reflect with Archbishop Sheen on how Our Lord wishes us to share in His work, which is the work of redemption.
