Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the Vox Articulata archive, and his upcoming beatification.
Who was Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen?
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) was an American Catholic bishop, philosopher, and broadcaster. He hosted The Catholic Hour on NBC Radio (1930–1952) and Life Is Worth Living on television (1951–1957), reaching tens of millions of listeners and viewers. He is known for his accessible explanations of Catholic faith and his engagement with modern questions about suffering, materialism, and the meaning of life. Read his full biography →
When is the Fulton Sheen beatification?
Archbishop Sheen will be beatified on September 24, 2026, in Peoria, Illinois — the diocese of his birth. Beatification is the penultimate step before canonization (sainthood) in the Catholic Church. Learn more about the beatification →
Are these sermons free to access?
Yes. The Catholic Hour broadcasts in this archive (1941–1952) are in the public domain. They are freely available here in full-text, searchable form, with audio courtesy of the Internet Archive (archive.org). No account or payment is required.
What is the Catholic Hour?
The Catholic Hour was a weekly radio program that aired on NBC beginning in 1930, sponsored by the National Council of Catholic Men. Archbishop Sheen was its primary speaker for many years, reaching an estimated four million listeners per week. The broadcasts covered topics ranging from prayer and the sacraments to communism, war, and the moral foundations of democracy.
How does the search work?
The search uses semantic (meaning-based) matching over the full text of each sermon transcript. This means it finds passages in Sheen's actual words — not just titles or summaries — so a search for 'how should I pray' will surface the specific parts of sermons where he addresses the practice of prayer directly.
How many sermons are in the archive?
The archive currently contains approximately 94 public sermons by Archbishop Sheen, including Catholic Hour radio broadcasts (1941–1952) and select recorded homilies. New sermons may be added as additional public-domain recordings are identified and transcribed.
Can I download the audio?
The audio recordings in this archive are hosted by the Internet Archive, where they are available for free download under public domain terms. The archive.org page for the Sheen collection links to individual files in multiple formats.
What does 'Vox Articulata' mean?
Vox Articulata is Latin for 'the articulate voice' — a phrase that refers to human speech as distinct from mere sound. It is used here as a description of Sheen's gift: a voice that gave clear, reasoned, and moving expression to the Catholic faith for a twentieth-century audience.
How do I find sermons on a specific topic?
Use the search bar on the homepage to enter a phrase, question, or keyword — for example, "suffering," "the Eucharist," or "how should I pray." You can also browse the full archive by date to explore sermons chronologically.
Who built this archive?
Vox Articulata is an independent Catholic digital archive. Questions, corrections, or partnership inquiries: contact@voxarticulata.com.