Introduction
One of the most compelling themes in the preaching of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was the radical nature of Christian love. For Sheen, Christianity was never merely a set of beliefs, moral principles, or religious practices. At its heart stood a Person—Jesus Christ—who calls every believer to a complete and unconditional surrender of life. This surrender is what Sheen often described as the “Law of Love.”
Unlike the laws of the world, which frequently operate through force, obligation, or self-interest, the law of Christ operates through love. Love is not simply one virtue among many; it is the very foundation of the Christian life. It is the principle that governs every relationship, every sacrifice, and every act of discipleship.
According to Archbishop Sheen, true love always demands total commitment. Half-hearted love is not genuine love. Just as Christ gave Himself entirely for humanity on the Cross, Christians are called to offer themselves completely to God and to one another.
Love as the Heart of Christianity
Archbishop Sheen often reminded audiences that Christianity is fundamentally a religion of love.
When Jesus was asked to identify the greatest commandment, He responded:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).
The second commandment follows naturally:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).
For Sheen, these two commandments summarize the entire Gospel. Every Christian duty, every moral teaching, and every spiritual practice ultimately flows from love.
God does not desire mere external obedience. He seeks the human heart. Love transforms obedience from a burden into a joy. What duty commands, love freely embraces.
Love Means Giving, Not Taking
One of Archbishop Sheen’s most memorable insights was that authentic love always involves self-giving.
The world often defines love as receiving affection, pleasure, security, or fulfillment. Sheen challenged this understanding by insisting that true love is measured not by what it receives but by what it gives.
He frequently pointed to Christ on the Cross as the perfect example of love. Jesus held nothing back. He gave His time, His energy, His compassion, His suffering, and ultimately His life.
Love reaches its highest expression in sacrifice.
According to Sheen, every authentic relationship reflects this truth. Parents sacrifice for their children. Husbands and wives sacrifice for one another. Priests sacrifice for their people. Friends sacrifice for friends.
The greater the love, the greater the willingness to give.
The Cross: The Supreme Law of Love
No symbol was more central to Archbishop Sheen’s spirituality than the Cross.
He often stated that the Cross reveals the true meaning of love better than any book, sermon, or philosophy ever could.
On Calvary, Christ demonstrated that love is not merely an emotion. Love is a gift of self.
The world often associates love with feelings, attraction, or emotional satisfaction. While these have their place, Sheen taught that genuine love endures even when emotions fade.
Christ did not love humanity because it was lovable. He loved humanity because love is His very nature.
The Cross therefore becomes the ultimate school of love. It teaches believers that authentic love is willing to suffer, forgive, and persevere.
Total Commitment to God
Archbishop Sheen repeatedly emphasized that God does not ask for a portion of our lives; He asks for everything.
The first commandment calls believers to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. The word “all” is significant.
God seeks total commitment.
Sheen often compared Christianity to marriage. A husband and wife do not pledge partial fidelity. They give themselves completely to one another.
Similarly, discipleship involves a total gift of self to God.
Many people desire the blessings of faith without accepting the demands of faith. They want Christ as Savior but hesitate to accept Him as Lord.
Sheen warned that Christianity cannot be lived halfway. Christ never called people to partial discipleship. He invited them to leave everything and follow Him.
Love Requires Sacrifice
A recurring theme in Sheen’s preaching was that love and sacrifice are inseparable.
Modern culture often views sacrifice as something negative or undesirable. Yet Sheen argued that every meaningful love involves sacrifice.
The mother who stays awake caring for her sick child sacrifices.
The missionary who leaves home to preach the Gospel sacrifices.
The priest who dedicates his life to serving God’s people sacrifices.
The Christian who forgives an enemy sacrifices.
Love without sacrifice quickly becomes self-centered. Sacrifice purifies love and reveals its authenticity.
According to Sheen, whenever Christians embrace sacrifices for the sake of God or neighbor, they participate in the very love of Christ.
The Danger of Divided Hearts
Archbishop Sheen frequently warned against divided loyalties.
Many people attempt to serve both God and the world simultaneously. They desire holiness while remaining attached to selfish ambitions, material possessions, or sinful habits.
Sheen observed that Christ demands a decision.
Throughout the Gospel, Jesus repeatedly calls people to choose. The rich young man was invited to leave everything and follow Him. The Apostles left their nets, businesses, and former lives.
Total commitment requires a willingness to place God above every other attachment.
This does not mean rejecting legitimate human loves. Rather, it means loving everything in proper relationship to God.
When God occupies first place, every other love becomes purified and strengthened.
Love and Freedom
One of Sheen’s most profound insights concerns the relationship between love and freedom.
The modern world often defines freedom as the ability to do whatever one desires. Sheen disagreed.
True freedom, he taught, is the capacity to choose what is good and to give oneself in love.
A selfish person may appear free, but selfishness often leads to slavery—slavery to passions, habits, possessions, or ego.
Love liberates because it enables a person to transcend self-interest.
The saints provide the clearest example of this freedom. By surrendering themselves completely to God, they discovered a joy and peace that worldly pursuits could never provide.
Total Commitment in Daily Life
Archbishop Sheen understood that total commitment is not reserved for priests, religious, or canonized saints.
Every Christian is called to holiness.
Total commitment is lived through ordinary acts of fidelity:
- Daily prayer.
- Faithful participation in the Eucharist.
- Service to family members.
- Acts of charity toward the poor.
- Forgiveness of those who cause hurt.
- Honest work performed for the glory of God.
- Perseverance in times of suffering.
These seemingly small acts become extraordinary when performed out of love.
Sheen often reminded believers that saints are not people who do extraordinary things. They are ordinary people who do ordinary things with extraordinary love.
The Eucharist and Total Self-Giving
Archbishop Sheen’s devotion to the Eucharist deeply influenced his understanding of love.
In the Eucharist, Christ continues His total self-gift to humanity.
At every Mass, Jesus offers Himself completely to the Father and to His people.
Sheen believed that frequent participation in the Eucharist gradually transforms believers into what they receive.
The Eucharist teaches Christians how to live the law of love.
As Christ gives Himself without reserve, so believers are called to offer themselves completely in return.
The Eucharistic life becomes a life of gratitude, sacrifice, and self-giving love.
The Saints as Witnesses of Total Commitment
Archbishop Sheen frequently pointed to the saints as living examples of the law of love.
The saints came from different cultures, professions, and periods of history, yet they shared one common characteristic: complete surrender to God.
Some were martyrs who shed their blood for Christ.
Others were missionaries who traveled to distant lands.
Others served quietly in monasteries, schools, hospitals, and homes.
What united them was their willingness to place Christ above everything else.
Their lives demonstrate that total commitment is not only possible but also deeply fulfilling.
Lessons from Fulton Sheen’s Teaching on the Law of Love
Archbishop Sheen’s teaching offers several timeless lessons:
- Love is the foundation of Christian life.
- Genuine love always involves self-giving.
- The Cross is the supreme example of love.
- God calls every believer to total commitment.
- Sacrifice is an essential expression of love.
- True freedom is found in self-giving love.
- The Eucharist forms believers in the law of love.
- Holiness consists in loving God above all things.
These principles remain as relevant today as they were during Sheen’s lifetime.
Conclusion
Archbishop Fulton Sheen believed that the greatest challenge facing Christians is not understanding God’s love but responding to it completely.
The law of love demands more than occasional acts of devotion. It calls for the total gift of one’s heart, mind, soul, and strength. It asks believers to imitate Christ, whose love held nothing back.
The Cross reveals the cost of love, but the Resurrection reveals its triumph.
Every Christian is invited to enter this mystery of self-giving love. Whether through family life, priesthood, religious life, professional work, or daily acts of charity, the call remains the same: to love as Christ loved.
For Fulton Sheen, holiness was ultimately very simple. It consisted of allowing God’s love to transform the heart until every thought, word, and action reflected the love of Christ.
The law of love is therefore not merely a commandment. It is the path to true freedom, lasting joy, and eternal union with God. It is the call to total commitment—the wholehearted response of a soul that has encountered the infinite love of Christ.
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