Twelve years
ago, a brief article in the Marian Helper magazine caught my attention. “My mother never gave up on me,” I read.
“Even though I dropped out of high school, she never gave up on me, and now I’m
becoming a priest.”
ago, a brief article in the Marian Helper magazine caught my attention. “My mother never gave up on me,” I read.
“Even though I dropped out of high school, she never gave up on me, and now I’m
becoming a priest.”
That simple little story spoke volumes. I was on the
lookout for inspirational accounts to include in the Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart book that I was co-authoring. There had to be some drama if he dropped out of
high school and later became a priest, I reasoned.
lookout for inspirational accounts to include in the Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart book that I was co-authoring. There had to be some drama if he dropped out of
high school and later became a priest, I reasoned.
I obtained the writer’s phone number from his congregation, the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and called him. Several
hours after our conversation began, I had heard the most amazing conversion
story of my life: sex, drugs and rock and roll–and so much more. After all, not every delinquent gets kicked
out of the country of Japan, and that was only after the police were able to
track him down. Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC
was one bad dude–a heathen, a hell-raiser, and a heartbreak to his parents. And then came Mary. She changed everything.
hours after our conversation began, I had heard the most amazing conversion
story of my life: sex, drugs and rock and roll–and so much more. After all, not every delinquent gets kicked
out of the country of Japan, and that was only after the police were able to
track him down. Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC
was one bad dude–a heathen, a hell-raiser, and a heartbreak to his parents. And then came Mary. She changed everything.
It Began
with Mary
with Mary
In a recent
interview, Fr. Calloway talked about his latest book Mary of
Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures and explained why the Blessed Mother is so
central to his priesthood. “My conversion happened through a mystical
experience I had involving Mary and the devil,” Fr. Calloway explained. He was
reading a book about Marian apparitions that he had found on his parents’ bookshelf one night. “I encountered an evil presence and I was terrified,” he
said. “I didn’t know what to do, so I cried out to Mary. I felt her presence,
and she vanquished the devil because Jesus lives in her.”
interview, Fr. Calloway talked about his latest book Mary of
Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures and explained why the Blessed Mother is so
central to his priesthood. “My conversion happened through a mystical
experience I had involving Mary and the devil,” Fr. Calloway explained. He was
reading a book about Marian apparitions that he had found on his parents’ bookshelf one night. “I encountered an evil presence and I was terrified,” he
said. “I didn’t know what to do, so I cried out to Mary. I felt her presence,
and she vanquished the devil because Jesus lives in her.”
Fr. Callowayturned to God and desired to change his errant ways. He wanted to know Jesus
but was not sure where to find him. “I had heard about Jesus but had misconceptions
about him,” Fr. Calloway said. “People were creating their own Jesus but I
wanted the real one. I wondered though,
who is he and where is he?”
Fr. Calloway reasoned that no one knew Jesus
better than his own mother. “Show me your
Jesus,” he petitioned the Blessed Mother. “She led me to the place where I
could audibly hear authentic teachings on Jesus Christ. She led me to the Catholic Church where I
learned about the real Jesus.”
better than his own mother. “Show me your
Jesus,” he petitioned the Blessed Mother. “She led me to the place where I
could audibly hear authentic teachings on Jesus Christ. She led me to the Catholic Church where I
learned about the real Jesus.”
The
Story Continues with Mary
Story Continues with Mary
Since that
time, he chronicled his own story in No Turning
Back
and has a total of nine books centered on the Blessed Mother and Divine Mercy. Fr. Calloway is a leading expert on the
Blessed Mother and earned a pontifical Licentiate degree (STL) in Mariology at
the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio.
His most recent book Mary of
Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures came about at the request of the publisher,
Ignatius Press. Ignatius
obtained the North American copyright for the film, Mary of
Nazareth
that been released in Europe. “Ignatius
edited out some confusing theological things about Mary Magdalene and immodest
parts in the original film and then asked me to review their version of it,”
Fr. Calloway said. “I thought it was a masterpiece. I was so in love with it
that I promoted it everywhere I went.”
time, he chronicled his own story in No Turning
Back
and has a total of nine books centered on the Blessed Mother and Divine Mercy. Fr. Calloway is a leading expert on the
Blessed Mother and earned a pontifical Licentiate degree (STL) in Mariology at
the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio.
His most recent book Mary of
Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures came about at the request of the publisher,
Ignatius Press. Ignatius
obtained the North American copyright for the film, Mary of
Nazareth
that been released in Europe. “Ignatius
edited out some confusing theological things about Mary Magdalene and immodest
parts in the original film and then asked me to review their version of it,”
Fr. Calloway said. “I thought it was a masterpiece. I was so in love with it
that I promoted it everywhere I went.”
The movie,
which had been in theaters and is now on DVD, looks at the life of Christ
through the eyes of his mother Mary.
Ignatius Press asked Fr. Calloway to put together a coffee table companion
book filled with beautiful images from the film and inspirational quotes about
Mary.
which had been in theaters and is now on DVD, looks at the life of Christ
through the eyes of his mother Mary.
Ignatius Press asked Fr. Calloway to put together a coffee table companion
book filled with beautiful images from the film and inspirational quotes about
Mary.
“The film and book bring out the importance
of Mary,” he said. “I love the
quote from St. Catherine of Sienna, ‘Mary
is the bait God uses to capture the heart of men.’ When God revealed himself to me, he put in
front of me a beautiful woman, his mother.”
Fr. Calloway pointed out that in our modern age, pornography has
corrupted beauty, but said that the Blessed Mother is bringing many men back
through a growing number of men’s groups centered on the rosary and the many
Church approved Marian apparitions of our time.
of Mary,” he said. “I love the
quote from St. Catherine of Sienna, ‘Mary
is the bait God uses to capture the heart of men.’ When God revealed himself to me, he put in
front of me a beautiful woman, his mother.”
Fr. Calloway pointed out that in our modern age, pornography has
corrupted beauty, but said that the Blessed Mother is bringing many men back
through a growing number of men’s groups centered on the rosary and the many
Church approved Marian apparitions of our time.
“Mary is a
huge aspect of my priesthood,” he said.
“I give myself to her every morning and ask her to help me to seek the glory
of God throughout the day.” He added
that he prays the rosary daily, sends up prayers throughout the day and start
major tasks with the Hail Mary.”
huge aspect of my priesthood,” he said.
“I give myself to her every morning and ask her to help me to seek the glory
of God throughout the day.” He added
that he prays the rosary daily, sends up prayers throughout the day and start
major tasks with the Hail Mary.”
Drawing
in Souls
in Souls
Fr. Calloway
said he doesn’t just wait for a Marian feast day to preach on her at Mass
because Mary has the power to draw in souls.
He has also been leading pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Church
approved Marian shrines in Europe. To learn about upcoming trips go to www.fathercalloway.com and click on “Pilgrimages.”
said he doesn’t just wait for a Marian feast day to preach on her at Mass
because Mary has the power to draw in souls.
He has also been leading pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Church
approved Marian shrines in Europe. To learn about upcoming trips go to www.fathercalloway.com and click on “Pilgrimages.”
“I’m doing
everything I can to bring people to Jesus,” Fr. Calloway said, “but if I get
people to Our Lady through these pilgrimages, I find that she is able to do it so
easily.
everything I can to bring people to Jesus,” Fr. Calloway said, “but if I get
people to Our Lady through these pilgrimages, I find that she is able to do it so
easily.
“When I
arrive at a pilgrim site, I just pray: ‘Blessed Mother, I have this bus load of
people with me; do what you do.’” Fr. Calloway said he sees people begin
praying the rosary and troubled families and marriages often turn completely
around. “It’s phenomenal what Mary can do!”
arrive at a pilgrim site, I just pray: ‘Blessed Mother, I have this bus load of
people with me; do what you do.’” Fr. Calloway said he sees people begin
praying the rosary and troubled families and marriages often turn completely
around. “It’s phenomenal what Mary can do!”
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