Francis Joseph Sheed (20 March 1897 – 20 November 1981) was an Australian-born lawyer, Catholic writer, publisher, speaker, and lay theologian. He and his wife Maisie Ward were the names behind the imprint Sheed & Ward and as forceful public lecturers in the Catholic Evidence Guild.

Life and career

Early life

Sheed was born in Sydney on 20 March 1897 to John Sheed, a descendant of Scottish Presbyterians, and English-born Mary Maloney. His mother's family were

Irish Catholic Irish Catholics () are an ethnoreligious group native to Ireland, defined by their adherence to Catholic Christianity and their shared Irish ethnic, linguistic, and cultural heritage.The term distinguishes Catholics of Irish descent, particul ...

. Baptized Catholic, at the insistence of their father, Frank Sheed and his brother Jack were raised

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

. Frank attended a Methodist church but surreptitiously make his Catholic first communion and confirmation. He attended Sydney Boys’ High School and in 1917 obtained a BA degree from the University of Sydney.

Catholic Evidence Guild

In 1920, Sheed travelled to London, where he encountered the Catholic Evidence Guild whose lay Catholics expounded the faith. He joined the group and became an effective soapbox orator. With an understanding of Protestant attitudes toward Catholicism, Sheed took up writing and speaking on the subject of Catholic

apologetics Apologetics (from Greek ) is the religious discipline of defending religious doctrines through systematic argumentation and discourse. Early Christian writers (c. 120–220) who defended their beliefs against critics and recommended their f ...

, the rational defense of the Catholic faith. Through his activity with the Guild he met Maisie Ward, daughter of Wilfrid Ward, a prominent Catholic essayist and biographer.

Sheed & Ward

Sheed and Maisie Ward were married in April 1926. That same year, they moved to London, where Sheed and Maisie's brother Leo established the publishing house of Sheed and Ward. When Leo Ward left to become a priest, Maisie took his place as publisher. Their son Wilfred Sheed was an essayist and novelist; their daughter, Rosemary, a translator. As publisher of an all-star roster including Karl Adam,

Hilaire Belloc Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc ( ; ; 27 July 187016 July 1953) was a French-English writer, politician, and historian. Belloc was also an orator, poet, sailor, satirist, writer of letters, soldier, and political activist. His Catholic fait ...

, G. K. Chesterton, Christopher Dawson, Ida Friederike Görres,

Ronald Knox Ronald Arbuthnott Knox (17 February 1888 – 24 August 1957) was an English Catholic priest, theologian Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an ...

Hugh Pope Henry Vincent Pope, better known as Fr. Hugh Pope (1869–1946), was an English Dominican biblical scholar, Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the ''Pontificium Collegium Internationale Angelicum'', the future Pontifical University of Saint ...

, and

Evelyn Waugh Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (; 28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires ''Decli ...

, Sheed maintained a robust Catholic faith while keeping abreast of progressive trends. Frank Sheed wrote a constant stream of books touching on almost every aspect of basic

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

, several of which remain in print. His translation of St. Augustine's '' Confessions'' remains acclaimed. In 1933 they opened a branch in New York and became "the most influential Catholic publishers in the English-speaking world". In 1956 Lille Catholic University awarded him a doctorate in divinity. He published an autobiography, ''The Church and I'' (1974). Frank Sheed died on 20 November 1981 at Jersey City and was buried in the Holy Name cemetery.

Works

*''The Catholic Evidence Guild'' (1925) *''Nullity of Marriage'' (1931) *''A Map of Life'' (1933) *''Communism and Man'' (1945) *''Theology and Sanity'' (1947) *''Saints are Not Sad'' (1949) *''Society and Sanity'' (1953) *''Theology for Beginners'' (1957) *''To Know Christ Jesus'' (1962) *''What Difference Does Jesus Make?'' (1970) *''The Church and I'' utobiography Garden City, NY: Doubleday (1974) *''Christ In Eclipse'', Kansas City: Sheed Andrews and McMeel (1978) *''The Instructed Heart'' (1979)

Bibliography

* Frank Sheed (1974), ''The Church & I'', Doubleday. * Maisie Ward (1963), ''Unfinished Business'', New York: Sheed & Ward. * Maisie Ward (1973), ''To and Fro on the Earth: A Sequel to an Autobiography'', New York: Sheed & Ward. * Wilfrid Sheed (1985), ''Frank and Maisie: A Memoir with Parents'', New York: Simon & Schuster. * David Meconi (2011), Introductory Essay in ''Frank Sheed and Maisie Ward: Spiritual writings'', Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheed, Frank 1897 births 1981 deaths 20th-century Australian male writers 20th-century Australian non-fiction writers 20th-century Roman Catholics Australian male non-fiction writers Australian religious writers Australian Roman Catholic writers Lay theologians Writers from Sydney