Joseph Titles

Joseph. Every Christian knows the name. We know who he was, but what do we really know abut him? For most of us, the answer is Not Much. Now, in these highly intimate, insightful, easy-to-read meditations, the late, noted Scripture scholar Fr. Richard Gilsdorf investigates the New Testament's most mysterious figure. In doing so, he opens up for us the Church's greatest make saint in new and exciting ways, drawing believers ever deeper into the Gospels and thus the person of Jesus Christ. Reading this warm, conteplative book is like going on retreat, making it perfect for personal devotions, study groups, or adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

Who was St. Joseph? Was he just a passive, incidental figure in the drama of salvation? On the contrary, in every way that Jesus needed a father, St. Joseph was that for him. And how overwhelming it must have been for Joseph to be asked to stand in the Father's place! No man has ever been asked to do so in such an unthinkable way. Every priest, and certainly every man who is a father (biologically or otherwise), should take this to heart.

Caster's book provides a unique, in-depth presentation of Joseph from the perspective of the evangelical counsels and the theological and cardinal virtues. Each section begins with an explanation of what each counsel or virtue means and then shows how Joseph models it for us.

The descriptions of St. Joseph's life and character found in this book, while rooted in the Scripture passages that mention him, are chiefly inspired by Jesus, who spent the majority of his life at home with Joseph and Mary. For years, the three of them lived, prayed, celebrated, studied, and shared, all the while uniting their lives more intimately with God's own. Those years in Nazareth were a real preparation for the foundation upon which Jesus would build his saving ministry. And as much as Joseph and Mary offered Jesus, he offered them an ever-expanding awareness of the God that had changed both their lives. The reciprocity of love that perfectly defines the home in Nazareth is the very pattern for all family life--and therefore of the Church itself.

Let Fr. Gary Caster introduce you to the man who risked everything to care for Mary and her Son, safeguarding them from harm and cherishing them with a pure and true love. Joseph was a flesh-and-blood testimony of what it means to live according to the Father's will with one's mind and heart centered on Christ.

From the author's Introduction: \Though the role of St. Joseph is limited in the New Testament, his function is not insignificant in the plan of God. He is recalled briefly in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew; the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the visit of the king-astrologers, the flight into Egypt, the Presentation in the Temple, and life in Nazareth. I will focus on these excerpts of the New Testament in order to sketch the most accurate portrait possible of Joseph. I shall also speak of his veneration, which developed slowly throughout history and which has seen a renewal since the 20th century. I will conclude with some prayers that will awaken our contemplative glance on this great Saint, the Patron of the Church and of works, whom we celebrate with solemnity on March 19th.\

Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary, is often called on to intercede in the selling of a house. However, those with a devotion to Saint Joseph know that people seek his example and his help in handling employment, family issues, a happy death, finances, Divine Providence, home improvement, and good health. Let the Stories & Prayers in this book help you open your heart to the care that Saint Joseph can provide.