Marian Confirmation Companion

In Home Program for Confirmation Candidates & Sponsors

De: Paul E. Cranley

Narrado por: Paul E. Cranley

St. Joseph’s Secret Marian Blessing

St. Joseph held a great secret in his heart! At the command of Archangel Gabriel, he took Mary into his heart and home and was never the same. St. Joseph’s secret Marian blessing can be stated in a universal way that applies to all: After receiving Mary into his heart and home, he met God in a surprisingly new way! This blessing was also manifested in the lives of many others mentioned in the New Testament. Jesus taught this principle to his apostles: “Whoever receives you, receives me. And, whoever receives me receives the one who sent me" (Mt. 10:40). Thus, when Joseph received Mary into his heart and home, he also received Jesus nine months later in a surprisingly new way.

St. Joseph’s experience closely parallels that of new husbands down through time, even though both he and Mary were sexually chaste their entire lives. A new husband, after taking his new bride into his heart and home, soon discovers the presence of God in a surprisingly new way when he beholds the face of his newborn child. “Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26). The new dad looks into the face of his child and concludes, “I did not fashion this child with my hands.” His wife agrees; this child was not made with her hands either, but is a miraculous gift to them from God himself.

Eve declared after her first child: “I made a man with the help of God” (Gn. 4:1). God has visited their home and life will never be the same. This child will bring incredible amounts of new life, new hope, new joy, and new love to the couple for years to come—all because a new husband took his new wife into his heart and home and sincerely loved her with his whole self.

Marian Confirmation Companion contains a 20-week at-home preparation process to guide the confirmation candidate and sponsor on a journey to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Together, they will probe the deeper spiritual meanings of the gospels using the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary as timeline, following Jesus and Mary on their journey toward Pentecost. They will also study the wisdom of the saints, share their faith, and pray the rosary together.

They will reflect on each of the 20 mysteries, which contain practical spiritual truths; discuss the virtues and fruits of the Holy Spirit found within each mystery; and ponder the deeper meaning of each Commandment. They will learn 21 principles of Marian consecration and consecrate themselves to Jesus through Mary daily. A commitment to pray a daily rosary decade is required of both of them, and they will keep each other accountable. They will journey together with Mary as their companion, who will bring the power of the Holy Rosary, Marian consecration, and the Holy Spirit into the preparation process.

Many New Testament saints experienced St. Joseph’s secret Marian blessing because they, too, invited Mary into their “heart and home”. Saints such as Elizabeth, her child, John the Baptist, and her husband, Zechariah; the shepherds and Magi; Simeon and Anna; the wedding couple at Cana; Mary Magdalen, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany; the two walking to Emmaus and John & the Apostles. We can truly say that for all those who welcomed Mary into their heart and home “the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among them” (Jn. 1:14).

©2021 Paul E. Cranley (P)2022 Paul E. Cranley