Why a Consecration to St. Joseph?

The following is an interview with Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, author of the new Marian Press book, Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.

Why Consecration to St. Joseph?

Over the past 150 years, the Church has come to understand St. Joseph's greatness like never before. By Baptism, we're all consecrated to our Lord and many of us have consecrated ourselves to Jesus through Mary. But the Holy Spirit has made it clear that now is the time of St. Joseph. When the house is in disorder, you need a father to bring order. With all the craziness going on in the Church right now and in our culture, it's a perfect time to focus more attention on the earthly father of Jesus.

How does this book work?

It's modeled after the St. Louis De Montfort 33-day consecration to Jesus through Mary. Each day of the preparation to consecration focuses on a line from the Litany of St. Joseph, a beautiful prayer, which has been around since the 15th or 16th century. The book features quotes about St. Joseph from about 26 saints and mystics including: St. Theresa of Avila, St. Andre Bessette, St. Peter Julian Eymard, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, and St. Stanislaus Papczynski , the Founder of the Marian Fathers. There's also a section of the book called "the Wonders of St. Joseph," which is a great place to start for people who want to learn more about St. Joseph as a person before jumping into the 33-day consecration.

Does consecration to St. Joseph conflict with Marian consecration?

No. Consecration to St. Joseph does not conflict with nor take the place of Marian consecration. It complements it. We're not children of a one-parent spiritual family. Like all children, we require a mother and a father. Of course, that doesn't always happen - but it's always possible in the spiritual life. Part of the problem in today's society is that there's a generation of fatherless people. A lot of men and women today are lacking certain virtues that they could learn if they only had a father figure present. Saint Joseph provides that.

What do we know about St. Joseph?

We don't have any words from him in the New Testament. But we know he was definitely humble and always obedient. Whenever God gives him directions in Scripture, he immediately responds. He doesn't even need to say, "I'll do it." He just does it.

Also, he was a man who must have been extremely pure of heart, because he was married to the most beautiful woman ever and they remained virgins. Saint Joseph also had the role of raising and educating the Messiah. That's next level holiness!

No one was closer to our Lord and Our Lady than St. Joseph. He basically lived in perpetual Adoration. Imagine being able to see the things that he saw, to live with Our Lady and Jesus, to have meals with them on a daily basis for 30 years!

What do we stand to learn from St. Joseph?

Saint Joseph teaches us virtue, especially practicing patience and silence, which is very hard to do. Saint Joseph is always calm, always peaceful. He's a great model for the interior life. He was in a constant state of communion with God, something we should all imitate. His work was his prayer and his prayer was his work.

What will readers take away from this book?

People will gain a perspective on St. Joseph that they've never had before. They'll learn about the saints and mystics who were devoted to him, the religious communities that were founded in his name, and the shrines around the world that were established out of devotion to him. They'll also learn about the apparitions he's appeared in. I think people will be surprised at how many there are. I am hopeful people will say, "Wow I never knew there was so much about St. Joseph!" I think this book will inspire people to be more devoted to him and turn to him more in prayer.

What are people saying about this book?

I'm excited that Jim Caviezal endorsed this book. He and his family were the first to go through this consecration as a trial run. They said they absolutely loved it!

Also, I worked with the staff of Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina. He has declared a year of St. Joseph for his diocese starting Jan. 1. A lot of parishes in that diocese are going through the consecration together. I'm talking to other bishops right now to do the same thing. ... The excitement is crazy. People can't wait to get it!
FCSJ

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