For much of 2019, I waited with great anticipation for a book that was in development. When it first was announced by the author, it caught the attention of many faithful Catholics. It has arrived, and it’s better than I imagined it would be. Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father
You’re probably asking, “I’ve already done a consecration to Mary, can I do one to St. Joseph as well?” The answer is yes, yes, yes, and I’d encourage you to do so. This consecration in no way takes away from or diminishes your consecration to Mary. Look at it this way. It is in our nature and God’s will that each of us be loved by a mother and a father. What better way to reciprocate this love than consecrating ourselves to both our spiritual mother Mary and our spiritual father, Joseph?
I have taken notice of an uptick in devotion and attention being paid to Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. So why Joseph? Why now? Father Calloway points to two significant reasons for this. First is the attack on the family. In case you have noticed, Satan is working overtime to destroy the conventional structure of marriage and, in turn, deteriorating the family structure. Marriage and family have always been under attack, but in the past decade, the attack has escalated tremendously. Many of the conversation we have today about sexuality, increased divorced rates, and single-parent homes couldn’t even be fathomed as early as 30 years ago. This has all happened in our lifetime’s folks!
The second reason Father Calloway points out is a need for the entire world to be re-evangelized. Christian ideologies and norms are being ripped to shreds before our eyes. Society, in general, has chucked Christianity aside as stuffy, old ways of living. To be blunt, the world needs to be slapped up alongside the head, and Joseph is the man to do it!
How does one go about completing this consecration? Well, why break something that works? Father Calloway has mimicked the 33-day consecration to Mary for this consecration to Joseph. There are eight recommended start dates provided in the book. Each day readers are presented with a brief reading to complete and prayers. Also included is a section referenced throughout the 33 days with reading assignments pulled from. This section is essentially a book within the book called The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father. This section focuses on ten titles of Saint Joseph: Delight of Saints, Our Spiritual Father, Young Husband of Mary, Virginal Father of Jesus, Just and Reverent Man, Savior of the Savior, Adorer of Christ, Silent Witness, Patron of a Happy Death, and Terror of Demons.
The book also includes a number of prayers and meditation on Saint Joseph. Additionally, though the consecration can be done as an individual, Father Calloway has included a guide for how to complete the consecration as a group.
The time is now for Saint Joseph. Our society and our Church need his intervention now, perhaps more than ever. Consecration to Saint Joseph is an excellent way to learn more about this silent witness from the Gospels. Now is the time for individuals, families, parishes, and dioceses to place themselves under the protective guard of Saint Joseph. Why haven’t you started?
