When the topic arises, some people ask why we should consider consecrating ourselves to St. Joseph. Father Donald Calloway’s new book, Consecration to St. Joseph, answers this, and other related queries, eloquently. However, the following thoughts may be helpful to you if you have not yet acquired a copy of his book.
Perhaps you are one of the many who had thought about preparing for the March 19th consecration but could not get your hands on the book. The extremely high demand for the book led to its being back-ordered for a brief period. The book is now back in stock, but you may still have a question or two about the process of consecration before you spring for your copy of it.
What Does Consecrating Ourselves Mean?
The Encyclopedia at Catholic Answers tells us that,
Consecration, in general, is an act by which a thing is separated from a common and profane to a sacred use, or by which a person or thing is dedicated to the service and worship of God by prayers, rites, and ceremonies.
It goes on to further explain how Moses consecrated the entire Hebrew people as the People of God, as recorded in Exodus 24. Consecration in this sense definitely is not something new.
Consecrating Ourselves to St. Joseph
In his new book, Father Calloway explains that in consecrating oneself to St. Joseph,
…you acknowledge that he is your spiritual father, and you want to be like him. To show it, you entrust yourself entirely to his paternal care so that he can lovingly help you acquire his virtues and become holy. Total consecration to St. Joseph means you make a formal act of filial entrustment to your spiritual father so that he can take care of your spiritual well-being and lead you to God.
But Some of Us Have Consecrated Ourselves to Our Blessed Mother!
Some of us may have consecrated ourselves to Our Blessed Mother, Mary. So, a question may arise as to whether we can, or should, further consecrate ourselves to St. Joseph as well. Consecration to Mary (and to Jesus through Mary) is a practice made popular by St. Louis de Montfort in True Devotion to Mary. Under this consecration, we give our life to Our Lady. In doing so, we can better avail ourselves of her motherly love as our spiritual mother and achieve an even closer union with Jesus.
In answer to the question, whether it’s okay to consecrate ourselves to both Our Lady and St. Joseph, Father Calloway tells us,
God desires that all children be committed to the love and care of a mother and a father. You are not a member of a single-parent spiritual family. Mary is your spiritual mother, and St. Joseph is your spiritual father…Total consecration to Mary is not diminished by total consecration to St. Joseph. Mary wants you to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph!… Be at peace. The Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph are one.
Okay, but what if we do consecrate ourselves to St. Joseph, but haven’t yet consecrated ourselves to Mary? No need to be troubled in this case, either. You will benefit from consecration to St. Joseph in any event.
Benefits of Consecrating Ourselves to St. Joseph
But how will consecration to St. Joseph be of benefit? Well, let’s consider this crazy, “mixed up, muddled up, shook up world,” to borrow a line from an old Kinks tune. The family, as never before, is under demonic attack. It is the basic building block of the Church and of society. The enemy knows this and is doing all he can to destroy families, the Church, and society. It’s become a cliché, but what’s right is viewed as wrong, and what’s wrong is considered right in today’s world.
Even some ordained clergy are suggesting that the Church adapt to the world’s view of right and wrong in these issues, in spite of what Scripture and two millennia of Church teaching tell us. We are engaged in a spiritual battle—one from which we cannot run and hide. The stakes are too high. Now, consider some of St. Joseph’s titles, including “Terror of Demons,” and “Pillar of Families,” “Most Strong,” “Protector of Holy Church,” among others.
Why wouldn’t we want to consecrate ourselves to him? Why would we not want to ask him to take us under his wing as our spiritual father, our guardian, and our protector? After all, who protected our Savior as a child when Herod wanted to kill Him? Who cared for and protected the Holy Family until his death in the arms of Jesus and Mary? Is it any wonder why St. Joseph is such a strong patron saint for fathers and their families?
But What If We’re Busy—Doesn’t This Take a Lot of Time?
A simple act of consecration—a simple prayer—actually is all it takes to consecrate ourselves to St. Joseph. That being said, Father Calloway outlines a program of prayer and spiritual reading to help us get to know and love St. Joseph even more. Under his program, even the busiest layperson, with multiple irons in the fire, can find a little time each day to prepare for consecration to this powerful saint. As Father Calloway tells us,
…if you miss a day, don’t panic. Just make it up and continue your preparation. You can do this!
When Should We Begin Preparation for Consecrating Ourselves to St. Joseph?
Not sure about when to begin preparing for consecration? Concerned about having missed the kickoff for a March 19th consecration? Father Calloway provides a consecration chart in his book that outlines some feast days on which people may wish to consecrate themselves.
Working backward from a chosen feast date, we can calculate the kickoff date for our period of preparation for consecration. For example, to consecrate ourselves on May 1st, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, we’d start our preparation on March 30th.
Those wishing to make their act of consecration on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, which is March 19th, would have begun preparation for it on February 15th (or the 16th, in a leap year such as 2020). Father Calloway lists other suggested feast days we might consider as well, including Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Knock, and All Saints Day, to name a few.
There’s Still Time–A Call to Action—A Call to Consecration
Right now, as you read this, many are getting ready to prepare for consecration to St. Joseph using Father Calloway’s book and approach. Some already are preparing for consecration to St. Joseph. Some entire parishes have begun planning for, or are actually doing, the preparation and consecration as a group effort. Some men’s ministries are looking into it or carrying it out. Men in Knights of Columbus councils and assemblies are considering and planning for it.
This, the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, is the perfect time for us to consecrate ourselves, our families, ministries, apostolates, and parishes to St. Joseph. Whether you are a man or a woman, young or old, St. Joseph is ready and waiting. Why not make your Lenten season extra special through preparation for this wonderful consecration?
St. Joseph, Head of the Holy Family, Pray for Us!
This is an updated version of a previously published article.
4 thoughts on “Consecrating Ourselves to St. Joseph – There’s Still Time”
I have gotten quite behind and to have my consecration on feast of Our Lady of Fatima (May 13) I will need to double up my daily readings for a time to finish on that day. Would you recommend instead that I just move my consecration day forward , it would not be on a feast day. I do not mind ready a little more for a few days to “catch up” but wonder if that’s not a good idea?
Thanks Kathy
Kathy, thanks for your question. I don’t know that there is one right answer to your question. I think we can consecrate ourselves to St. Joseph (or to Our Lady, or St. Michael, or others) merely by praying a sincere act or prayer of consecration on the day we wish to make the consecration. This is so, even if we have not done a lot of reading and preparation for the consecration. The nice part of the preparation, such as Fr. Calloway suggests, is that it allows us to grow spiritually closer to St. Joseph as we head into the consecration date.
All that said, I personally don’t believe St. Joseph is like a performance manager or coach with a clipboard checking off if we’ve hit the mark every time. Seems like you have options available – a) try to catch up if you wish, in order to make the consecration as planned, with all the reading and prayers done in advance; b) change to some other date, or even leave the date open, until you’ve finished your prayers and reading; or c) keep going as you are, consecrate yourself on the original date planned, and just keep up the reading plan daily until you get through it all, even if it’s after the date of consecration.
Hope this helps! God bless you.
Thank you for this timely reminder. I am one of those who sought the book but found it to be unavailable. Recently it became available in my local Catholic bookstore and I rushed to obtain a copy. Now I am benefiting greatly, even as I seek to catch up in time for the next suggested date. Having also consecrated myself to Mary, it was a bit of a puzzle to understand the need to add St. Joseph. Father Calloway‘s book, however, clarifies that quickly within the first few pages. Will be sharing your article on my Facebook page. God bless and have a fruitful Lent!
Thank you, Birgit! Fr. Calloway has done an amazing job with this book – each day’s readings are a treat. May God bless you and yours abundantly both during this Lent, and always!