Way to Inner Peace

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (b. 1895 — d. 1979) had a gift for connecting with people of all religious backgrounds. Rather than limit his ministrations to the Catholics within his diocese, this devout man used popular media like radio and television to reach millions.


Archbishop Sheen was also a prolific writer, with nearly 70 books published during his life. Way to Inner Peace, published in 1954, explores eight different themes on the path to a life of contentment and serenity. With four to five short chapters on each theme, this work makes an excellent daily devotional.


The first theme, Inner Peace, could also have been titled Humility. “A proud man thinks himself better than he is,” writes Archbishop Sheen, “and when criticized always believes his neighbor is jealous or has a grudge against him.” How often we see this in today's world of social media! And how often do we criticize others despite knowing so little of their lives or situations? This lack of humility is a thief of our inner peace.


On the theme of Goodness, Archbishop Sheen tells us that we find that which we look for in our lives. When we overlook good in favor of scandal and misdeeds, then we invite these evils into our hearts. He writes, “…the fallacy is that man always thinks of this perfection as coming to him without his own effort or the exercise of his own will.” Inner perfection must be earned through the acknowledgment that we are imperfect-but that perfection does exist in God.


Regarding Happiness, it is not simply a matter of creating joy, but of actively working to dispel sadness and melancholy. Psychology tells us that sadness leads us to “…take a darker view of life than the facts justify. Thus, sadness leads to pessimism…” But there is a solution-the Scriptures. When we internalize the fact that “…we are loved by God,” and that in the face of the knowledge, any sadness or discontent is our own folly, then we can cast off the shadow and live in the light of God's joy.


The section on Virtue includes chapters regarding selflessness and the evils of insincerity, as well as a chapter on war. At a macro level, war may seem out of place in a section on the virtue of the individual. But when we zoom in to the micro level, we see that war is the symptom of the moral failures in each of us. “When civilization is made up of millions of men and women who are at war with themselves, it is not long until communities, classes, states and nations will be at war with one another.”


Another key to inner peace is Learning. This ability is a gift, as “…man is the only creature in the universe that has the power of being able to look at himself in a mirror…see his faults and his good deeds, and thus either be pleased or angry with himself in the light of his conscience.” Being able to wonder at the world, to learn, and to know and improve ourselves-only through such humility can we reach wisdom.


With Wisdom comes the knowledge of when to speak and when to be silent. It teaches us how to practice patience and helps us to avoid judging others. Those that would be wise must listen more and speak less.


In the section titled You, Archbishop Sheen warns against the vices of hatred and judgment. But we are not alone in our struggles, for we can ask God for help. Crowd out the evil thoughts with good, for “A mind filled with ideas of love and beauty has little room for evil notions.”


Finally, there is Faith. In prayer and faith, we find relief from our burdens and cares. When we have the humility to look inward, view our faults with an open eye, and beg God's help and forgiveness, then we are at our best.