Abp. Sheen's 'Actress' Became a Tyburn Nun

By Mother Marilla, OSB

In his autobiography, Treasure in Clay, the soon to be Blessed Fulton Sheen recalls the story about the time a young English actress stumbled into St Patrick’s Church, Soho Square, London. It was a cold Epiphany morning in January. In Sheen’s own words this is what ensued:

"How do you happen to be here?" 

"Well, where am I, Father?" 

"Oh, Father?" 

She said: "Yes, I used to be a Catholic, but not anymore."

I said: "Were you drunk?" …

I pointed to a billboard across the street, asking: "Is that your name over there on the billboard?"

"Yes, I am the leading lady in that musical comedy." I invited her to come back that afternoon before the matinee. She agreed on one condition: "that you do not ask me to go to Confession." I said: "I promise not to ask you to go to Confession."

She said: "I want you to promise me faithfully not to ask me to go to Confession." I said: "I promise you faithfully not to ask you to go to Confession." That afternoon before the matinee, she returned. I then told her that we had a Rembrandt and a Van Dyck in the church:

"Would you like to see them?" As we walked down the side aisle, we passed a confessional. I pushed her in. I did not ask her to go, for I had promised not to ask her to go. Two years later I gave her her veil in a convent in London, where she is to this very hour.

The actress in fact entered at Tyburn Convent, London, on 2 November 1926. Tyburn is the place where over 105 martyrs laid down their lives during the English Reformation. Her name was Phyllis Mary Carlin, born at Balham on 21 October 1903. She became Mother Mary Tharcisius of the Blessed Sacrament, and died on 30 June 1993 in her 67th year as a Tyburn nun.

There are varying stories about how M.M. Tharcisius met then-Rev. Fr Fulton Sheen. She herself was adamant that she was not drunk when she dropped into the church at Soho. Apparently her story was muddled up with someone else’s. In any case, it is certain that Abp. Fulton Sheen remained a close friend of Mother Mary Tharcisius until his death and would often visit her.

Tyburn Convent has perpetual adoration 24/7 and so it was an ideal place for Rev. Fr. Sheen to make his holy hour. When Sheen visited, the grille separating the laity chapel from the sisters' chapel would be opened, and a kneeler placed in the sanctuary, so that he could make his Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. 

On one occasion M.M. Tharcisius was at adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, kneeling on a prie dieu with a small devotional book in her hand. This was permitted in the Holy Rule. At that moment, Rev. Fr. Sheen came to make his holy hour and, walking into the sanctuary, pulled the book out of M.M. Tharcisius' hand and said, "Don't READ to Him. TALK to Him!" (A different version of this story is recounted in one of Sheen's books.)

Reverend Mother Cyril Schaeffer (RIP), the beloved prioress and novice mistress of Tyburn Priory, Australia, used to be a member of our community in London at the time Mother Tharcisius was there. In her lessons, Mother Cyril liked to recount what Sheen had told the sisters. He said that it was possible to tell each one's degree of faith in the Real Presence by the way they genuflected.

Reverend Mother Cyril would often relate that M.M. Tharcisius was, as the necrology says, born into a dramatic family. She seemed to have inherited the artistic temperament that accompanies those of the thespian trade.

M.M. Tharcisius confessed one day to the young Fr. Sheen that she had a problem controlling her temper. However, her quick reactions were soon followed by an ‘as quick’ apology and she would humble herself for her outburst. But, despite all her efforts, M.M.Tharcisius could not overcome her sudden flareups. Fr. Sheen replied: “Don’t worry … You will be judged on your second reaction.” 

This was an immense consolation to the actress come nun, especially since she knew that Fr Sheen was a first class moral theologian. What he said made sense especially when one recalls the story of the two sons in Matthew's gospel. The first son's immediate reaction was to say "No" to his father when asked to go and work. But he later thought better of it and went. Those of us who are also quick reactors should be much consoled!

Reverend Mother Angela Stephens (RIP), prioress of the Tyburn monasteries in Ireland and New Zealand, was also in the community with M.M. Tharcisius. Mother Angela said that all the nuns loved Sheen's visits because his celebration of Holy Mass was so prayerful. She remembers being struck at the time by how faithful a friend Sheen was to Mother Tharcisius. At one stage, we had a convent in Wadhurst in East Sussex, and Mother Tharcisius spent some time there. The fact that she wasn't in London did not stop Sheen visiting her — if Sheen came to England, and Mother Tharcisius was in Wadhurst, then to Wadhurst Sheen would go! 

Mother Angela remembers Mother Tharcisius always knowing where Sheen was and what he was doing. She prayed for him very faithfully, and the bond between them was very strong. Now that they have gone to God, they surely will be both celebrating the Beatification with the Church on 24th September!

During the 67 years of her monastic life, Mother Tharcisius was a lively community member — her dramatic gifts enlivened many a community recreation. She used her gifts as sacristan and cook and altar bread maker for many long years. Her great devotion to the Tyburn Martyrs caused her to be a much-loved guide in the Martyrs' Crypt and many pilgrims entered into correspondence with her about the martyrs. 

Her outstanding characteristic was her dedication and fidelity to eucharistic adoration, especially night adoration. So regular was she at rising for her hour in the night that in one of her periods in hospital, she woke at night, dressed and set off for the chapel only to be told she was in hospital and had to be escorted back to bed.

In her last years she suffered ill health and finally almost complete loss of memory. She peacefully passed to the Lord on 30 June 1993. She often prayed the prayer of many of the Tyburn Martyrs: "Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, be to me a Jesus" — and at the end that is what one felt He had become for her — Jesus, her Savior.

Mother Marilla is Mother General of the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmartre OSB, also known as the Tyburn Nuns. Their mother house is at Tyburn Convent in London, the place of martyrdom of many Catholics between the years 1535 and 1681.