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June 5, 2020This book by Father Donald Calloway, M.I.C., is about preparing to be consecrated to Saint Joseph. One can do that, or one can use the book for accessing a lot of information and quotes from a lot of saints, popes and other Catholic authors on Saint Joseph. This book also could be used as a mini retreat.
The book has an introduction and then is divided into three parts: the first part is a 33-day preparation for the consecration to Saint Joseph. Each day has readings from Scripture, saints, blessed, and others.
Some of the saints, blesseds and others are, Saint Paul VI, Saint John XXIII, Saint John Paul II, Saint John Neumann, Blessed William Chaminade, Pope Benedict XVI, Saint Teresa of Avila, Blessed Bartolo Longo, The Catechism of the Catholic Church and other people from various times and places.
The second part is entitled “The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father,” which presents 10 “wonders” as themes that are:
1. Delight of saints which has quotes and stories by several saints like Saint Andre Bessette who founded the Oratory of Saint Joseph in Canada, and other saints.
2. Our Spiritual Father which talks about Saint Joseph being declared by Blessed Pope Pius XI as patron of the Universal Church.3. Young Husband of Mary.
4. Virginal Father of Jesus.
5. Just and Reverent Man.
6. Savior of the Savior, which discusses the sorrows of Saint Joseph and how he saved Jesus and Mary from danger.7. Adorer of Christ where Saint Joseph adored Jesus in the flesh whereas we adore him in the Eucharist.
8. Silent Witness that presents Saint Joseph's apparitions and his place in the Gospels.
9. Patron of a Happy Death, which discusses the tradition that Saint Joseph rose with others from the dead when Jesus died on the cross as it is mentioned in the Gospel.10. Terror of Demons where Saint Joseph is the second most feared by demons of the saints after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Part three is entitled Prayers to Saint Joseph. This part has litanies to Saint Joseph in English and Latin, acts of consecration written by various saints and others, and other prayers to Saint Joseph by saints, blessed and others.
There are two appendices with the first being on how to make a group preparation for consecration and the second is on what one can do after the consecration is done. There are two addendums. The first is two meditations on Saint Joseph and the second is a list of churches and shrines in the world dedicated to Saint Joseph. There is a bibliography and the book finishes with nine color illustrations.
Again, this book is a means to prepare to be consecrated to Saint Joseph or it can be used as a mini retreat. There are so many quotes from saints, popes and many other Catholic authors, which alone makes this book a treasure trove. May Saint Joseph terror of demons pray for us!
Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., from Saint Gregory’s Abbey, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
