When John Reemmer started a summer job in the mailroom of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith’s national office in 1964, he had no idea he was sharing a floor with someone on a path to sainthood.

“He had charisma — just a pleasant smile,” Reemmer said of then-Bishop Fulton Sheen. “The other thing that kind of surprised me was — he was a lot shorter than I thought he was. On TV he looked about 6½ feet tall, but I think he was about 5-foot-8, 5-foot-7.”

Reemmer first watched the larger-than-life Archbishop Sheen on “Life Is Worth Living” while he was in elementary school.

As a student at Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary, he spent three summers in the Society for the Propagation of the Faith’s Manhattan office while Archbishop Sheen served as national director. At the time, Reemmer was discerning the priesthood and considered him a role model.

RELATED: As Beatification Draws Near, Man Reflects On Train Ride With Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Access to Archbishop Sheen’s published books proved pivotal. Reemmer’s favorite, “The Priest Is Not His Own,” helped him decide his future.

“It’s ironic,” he said. “In a sense, that book made me decide, ‘No, maybe this isn’t for me.’ So, it helped me really discern what my vocation really was.”

Reemmer did not become a priest. Instead, he spent 40 years in law enforcement, including 27 with the FBI.

“I think Bishop Sheen’s dedication to his work was an inspiration,” he said. “And in a sense, an FBI agent has a vocation.”

The copy of “The Priest Is Not His Own” that Sheen signed for Reemmer still sits on his bookshelf.

Reemer remains an enthusiastic storyteller about Archbishop Sheen and supported his beatification. He and his wife traveled to St. Louis on Sept. 24 to attend the ceremony.

He said one story stands out above the rest. Employees shared a midafternoon break each day with Archbishop Sheen, who prayed with them and often hosted a guest. On one occasion, two missionary sisters joined them. After Archbishop Sheen handed one sister a donation, she knelt to kiss his ring, but he stopped her.

“This is my fondest memory,” Reemmer said. “He knelt down and kissed her hand.”

Reemmer later learned that the nun was Mother Teresa.