Fulton Sheen, Catholic media star, will be beatified in St Louis Thursday

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(RNS) — In 1953, Lucille Ball, the star of the hit show “I Love Lucy,” was up for an Emmy for “Most Outstanding Personality.” She lost — but not to famous journalist Edward R. Murrow or presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson — she lost to then-New York Auxiliary Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

“I feel it is time I pay tribute to my four writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,” Sheen reportedly quipped as he accepted the award.

This Thursday (Sept. 24), the Catholic bishop who charmed millions while explaining theological concepts and scrawling on a blackboard for his show “Life Is Worth Living” will come one step closer to being declared a saint. His beatification — which comes after the Vatican found that he lived a life of “heroic virtue” and that his intercession was responsible for a miracle — leaves him just one more miracle shy of sainthood.

Sheen’s beatification Mass will take place in St. Louis’ former NFL Stadium, the Dome at America’s Center, and will be presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who was widely regarded as one of the most likely candidates for pope in last year’s…