If You Were God - Fr. Donald Calloway Speaks on The Blessed Mother, Mary (Talk Notes & Photos)

Fr. Donald Calloway - Franciscan University - October 1st, 2016

"I've been 'mercified,' he said.  "I pay attention to Mary because Jesus does."

Fr. Donald Calloway spoke at Franciscan University on the topic of The Blessed Mother.  His conversion story is like no other and he attributes coming to Jesus through The Blessed Mother, Mary.

Here are my talk notes and photos from the hour he gave the crowd filling the Christ The King Chapel on campus. On 10/1/16, he spoke about how he felt about his own mother and how that relates to how God feels about Mary. 

Fr. Donald Calloway - Franciscan University - October 1st, 2016

Fr. Calloway's mother joins him on some of the pilgrimages he leads to Holy sites.  Often people will come up to him and tell him how much they like her.  He said that if someone brought a gift to his mom....his response would be, "You! Front of the bus!" 

Conversely, if someone were to say to him, while also on the pilgrimage trip, that they thought he was "cool" but his mother is a problem in their relationship he'd likely reply, "You! Back of the bus!"

After Fr. Donald Calloway's talk - Franciscan University - Christ The King Chapel - October 1st, 2016

God became Man...with a mother.  Jesus is the God/Man and he has a mom. He loves her VERY much.  He said the 2 best books on the topic are : 

(1) True Devotion by St. Louis de Montfort
(2) Archbishop Fulton Sheen's The World's First Love: Mary, Mother of God

Fr. Calloway supposed that if he were God and was able to make his mother....would he make flaws? NO.  He'd hold nothing back and give her every superlative, every virtue.  She'd be a masterpiece.  And when He spoke, as God, from high upon a Cross... to the world that would know of those words for generations...He said, "Behold, YOUR mother," and He meant it.  In the privilege of bringing us into His family, His mother would ,of course, become our mother.

Nuns and students - Franciscan University - October 1st, 2016

Created by God from all time for His most special purpose, Mary is the mold of sanctity. Her dainty foot will crush the head of the serpent....and the serpent knows this! Satan has angelic intelligence.  Saints tell us to seek refuge under her mantle and so for 2000 years Satan has been trying to DISMANTLE  and strip the Blessed Mother. 

Franciscan University - October 1st, 2016

Her words, "Fiat," are the perfect words God wants us to say as well. Wise men STILL find Him WITH His Mother. Most of what we know about Him came from His Mother, who has the greatest knowledge of Him.  

JC - Franciscan University - October 1st, 2016

Born again?  In Scripture Nicodemus responds to Jesus by asking if a man can re-enter his mother's womb? Because Nicodemus understood what being born again means... there is a Mother involved in birth...

(It was through Mary that the salvation of the world was begun.  Jesus came through Mary and we too can come to Jesus through Mary as no one loves her more than He did.)

Fr. Donald Calloway speaking with Franciscan University students after his October 1st, 2016 Marian talk

For more beautiful words about our faith and God's gift of The Blessed Mother to us....read Fr. Calloway's book, 

Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest 

and his new book is a perfect read for the month of October, dedicated to the rosary - Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon.

Rosary Circle - Franciscan University - October 1st, 2016

Looking for more book recommendations?  

Check out http://www.carolynastfalk.com/2016/10/05/an-open-book-8/