Frank Sheed facts for kids
Francis Joseph Sheed (born March 20, 1897 – died November 20, 1981) was an amazing Australian writer, publisher, and speaker. He was also a lawyer and a Catholic thinker. With his wife, Maisie Ward, he created a famous publishing company called Sheed & Ward. They were also well-known for giving powerful talks as part of the Catholic Evidence Guild.
Life and career
Early life
Frank Sheed was born in Sydney, Australia, on March 20, 1897. His father came from Scotland, and his mother was from England. Even though his mother's family was Catholic, Frank and his brother were raised Protestant because their father wanted them to be. Frank secretly went to Catholic services and received his First Communion and Confirmation. He went to Sydney Boys’ High School and later earned a degree from the University of Sydney in 1917.
Sharing the Catholic Faith
In 1920, Frank Sheed traveled to London, England. There, he found a group called the Catholic Evidence Guild. This group was made up of regular Catholic people who would explain their faith to others, often by speaking in public places like parks. Frank joined them and became a very good speaker.
Because he understood how Protestants viewed Catholicism, Frank started writing and speaking about defending the Catholic faith. This is called "apologetics." Through his work with the Guild, he met Maisie Ward. Maisie was the daughter of Wilfrid Ward, a well-known Catholic writer.
Sheed & Ward Publishing
Frank Sheed and Maisie Ward got married in April 1926. That same year, they moved to London. Frank and Maisie's brother, Leo, started a publishing company called Sheed and Ward. When Leo Ward left to become a priest, Maisie took his place as a publisher. Their son, Wilfred Sheed, became a writer, and their daughter, Rosemary, became a translator.
Sheed and Ward published many famous Catholic authors. These included Karl Adam, Hilaire Belloc, G. K. Chesterton, and Evelyn Waugh. Frank Sheed made sure the company stayed true to its Catholic beliefs. At the same time, he kept up with new ideas and trends.
Frank Sheed wrote many books about different parts of basic theology, which is the study of religious faith. Several of his books are still read today. His translation of St. Augustine's Confessions is still highly praised.
In 1933, Sheed and Ward opened a branch in New York. They became "the most important Catholic publishers in the English-speaking world."
In 1956, Lille Catholic University gave Frank Sheed a special degree in divinity. He and Maisie sold their publishing company in 1973. Frank Sheed also wrote a book about his own life called The Church and I (1974). He passed away on November 20, 1981, in Jersey City and was buried in Holy Name cemetery.
Works
- The Catholic Evidence Guild (1925)
- A Map of Life (1933)
- Theology and Sanity (1947)
- Communism and Man (1945)
- Theology for Beginners (1957)
- To Know Christ Jesus
- Nullity of Marriage
- What Difference Does Jesus Make (1970)
- Marriage and the Family
- The Church and I (1974)
- Saints are Not Sad (1949)
- Society and Sanity (1953)
- Christ In Eclipse (1978)
