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by Fulton J. Sheen (Author), Rachael Underhill (Foreword by)
A Servant of God, Volume Two, is a collection of five books of theology by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, including: The Seven Last Words (1933); The Cross and the Beatitudes (1937); Victory Over Vice (1939); Way to Happiness (1953); Way to Inner Peace (1954).
These works provide a better understanding of Jesus Christ and guidance for living a life of serenity and inner joy.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (b. 1895 - d. 1979) was a Catholic priest, writer, educator, and television and media personality. After becoming a priest in 1919, it wasn't long before he was sharing his views on scripture and philosophy with others. He wrote his first book in 1925, and taught philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC from the 1920s until 1950.
In 1930, he began The Catholic Hour, a widely popular Sunday night radio program. After 20 successful years, he switched mediums and began the television show Life is Worth Living in 1952. The show was a hit, and Archbishop Sheen earned an Emmy for the program in 1953.
The books in this collection represent a span of 21 years of Archbishop Sheen's priestly life. Three of them share a similar theme-the examination of Christ's Seven Last Words.
The Seven Last Words are the sayings of Jesus Christ upon the cross. In The Seven Last Words, Archbishop Sheen explains the content of this final sermon. Recorded in the gospels of Mark, Matthew, John, and Luke, these short yet profound phrases guide us through the death of the Savior while providing a better understanding of the depths of His Divine Love. Beginning with forgiveness for His tormentors and ending by turning His face toward His Heavenly Father, Christ's final words show His teachings in action, just as He did throughout His life.
The Cross and the Beatitudes explores the Seven Last Words from another angle. In this work, Archbishop Sheen draws a parallel between the eight Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount and these final sayings. These Beatitudes, or blessings, offer guidance to the listener, arguing for love and humility rather than strength and pride. While there are eight beatitudes, Archbishop Sheen considers the final to be an overarching blessing that includes the seven preceding it. By connecting seven beatitudes to the Seven Last Words, he unites the beginning of Christ's spiritual teachings with their completion upon Calvary.
In Victory Over Vice, he approaches the Seven Last Words in yet a different way. This work examines the seven cardinal sins through the lens of the Last Words of Christ. While these sins in others led to the crucifixion, Jesus Christ's response to them gives us a blueprint for how to face them in ourselves and in those around us.
The two remaining works in this collection are general guides to a life of peace and tranquility. Way to Happiness makes the argument that inner joy comes from fulfilling our primary purpose-to overflow with "...Pure Life, Pure Truth and Pure Love-and that is the definition of God." To this end, Archbishop Sheen has provided short essays on the themes of happiness, work, love, children, youth, inner peace, giving, and man. These essays help the reader to apply Biblical principles to their everyday lives.
Similarly, Way to Inner Peace explores the power of humility and virtue to bring us the tranquility that we seek. This work, in particular, has value to the religious and the secular alike. It argues that we reflect what we seek out. When we pursue comparisons with others and submerge ourselves in scandal and drama, we will always rob ourselves of life's serenity.
