Call Him Father: How to Experience the Fatherhood of God

by Edward G. Maristany, Edward G. Maristany

Here is a delightfully practical guide to attaining joyful intimacy with God, and to knowing Him truly as your Father. Fr. Edward Maristany leads you through a simple approach to getting to know God through prayer and service. He describes the crucial role of parents in introducing children to the love of our heavenly Father, and explains the role of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Mary in fostering this love. He shows you how even your times of difficulty can lead you to deeper love for and trust in God your Father.

Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2018

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was first published in 1999, I read and reviewed the first edition of this book back in 2006. And I loved it. It was a little volume that I have read a number of times over. When I found out that a new revised and expanded edition came out in the spring of 2018 I had to read it. When I reviewed the first edition of this book I stated: “Fr. Maristany has written another great book. My only regret is that this, and Loving the Holy Mass, are the only two books I can find by Fr. Maristany.”. That sentiment remains after reading this revised and expanded edition.

In this expanded edition the book has been broken into three key sections, and has 19 numbered chapters in those sections. It follows a similar order for the material as the original volume. The contents of this new edition are:

Introduction
PART ONE
We Are Children of God
1. God’s Original Plan
2. Baptism
3. The Good News
4. A Unique Love
5. What the World Needs Now

PART TWO
Experiencing Our Divine Filiation
1. The Role of Parents
2. The Role of the Holy Spirit
3. The Role of Jesus
4. The Role of Mary
5. Developing the Habit of Piety
6. Addressing the Father in Our Prayer
7. Trusting God in Times of Difficulty
8. Worshipping the Father in the Mass
9. Awareness of the Father’s Presence
10. Becoming Like a Little Child
11. Contrition
12. Working with a Right Intention

PART THREE
Keeping the Experience Alive
1. The Danger of Activism
2. The Danger of Routine
Conclusion

It is still not a large volume and is easily read over a long afternoon or if read in sections over a few days. Fr. Maristany draws from a few key source materials for his work, the Catechism, scriptures and the writings of Saint Josemaria Escriva. The focus of the teaching is that of sonship, or the concept of 'divine filiation' or, in simpler terms, we are God's children. Drawing from the Popes he states:

“See how beautifully Pope St. John Paul II put it while addressing a vast throng of young people: “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son Jesus.”

And Pope Francis completed the idea: “Our condition as children of God is the fruit of the love of the Father’s heart; it does not depend on our merits or on our actions, and thus no one can take it away, not even the devil! No one can take this dignity away.””

One of the greatest reminders for me in the book was:

“Every now and then throughout the day, exert yourself to take note—and advantage!—of the fact that your heavenly Father is keeping you company. Never fail to do this at night, when you go to bed. Put the burdens of the day aside—tomorrow will be another day—and go to your heavenly Father for refuge, comfort, and love.”

This is an amazing little book. The new revised edition is available as both a physical volume and an eBook. It is one of those books I have read many times and will read many times more. Even though Father Maristany has not published a large volume of work, his books are little treasures that will help you grow in your spiritual life!

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Father Edward.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Mike Kaminski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book

It's positive and uplifting! Makes me you contemplates the fact that you're a child of God almighty, recommended, Well done.