St. Joseph: The Man Closest to Christ
Following the Year of St. Joseph
that the Pope recently declared,
Fr. Sebastian Walshe, OPraem, writes
a timely St. Joseph book about the earthly father of Jesus who knew, guided, protected, and loved Christ better than any other man on Earth.
A new March 2023 release, St. Joseph: The Man Closest to Christ, is available just in time for the Feast Day of St. Joseph.
Although St. Joseph doesn’t speak a word in the Bible, we have come to know him through his actions in the New Testament. Building on that knowledge, Father Walshe helps us understand the man closest to Christ even better by exploring Old Testament typology, Sacred Scripture, and Sacred Tradition.
St. Joseph Book At First Glance
The hardcover book is 5.5″ x 8.5″ and has 176 pages. The cover shows a painting entitled Saint Joseph and the Christ Child by Spanish baroque painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo in 1670-75. As Jesus grasps white lilies and looks into the eyes of the reader, St. Joseph gazes tenderly upon the Christ child while holding him in his loving arms.
St. Joseph: The Man Closest to Christ
No man on Earth was closer to Jesus than his earthly father, St. Joseph. Father Sebastian’s book draws us closer to Jesus by fostering devotion to St. Joseph. The book shows us how God uses St. Joseph to lead us to a better love of Jesus. St. Joseph was the only man mentioned in the Bible to save the life of Jesus when he took the Holy Family to Egypt to escape King Herod. Similarly, the author describes God’s desire to save the Body of Christ today by using Saint Joseph as an instrument of His will.
Old Testament Typology and The Types of St. Joseph
One of the most riveting parts of the book is the discussion on typology. Father Sebastian provides an excellent explanation of typology and gives examples from Scripture. To summarize, a scriptural type is a person or thing similar to someone or something greater which fulfills it. The author emphasizes the need for clear, multiple, and distinct parallels between the type and its fulfillment.
The most transparent and informative type of St. Joseph is said to be Old Testament Joseph. In addition, the Old Testament Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are also considered types of St. Joseph. The author discusses the parallels between these men as types and St. Joseph’s fascinating fulfillment.
Titles of St. Joseph
There are many titles for St. Joseph based on his holiness and unique relationship with Mary and Jesus, as well as his mission from God concerning them. The titles arise from St. Joseph’s obedience to God’s will and his description as a caregiver, protector, provider, guardian, and ultimately the head of the Holy Family. The book discusses several titles of St. Joseph, some of which I’d never heard, such as Guardian and Provider of the Eucharist and Guardian and Provider for the Souls in Purgatory. Father Sebastian devotes chapters to describing these titles and defending their usage based on typology and theological argument. Of note, at the end of the book, there is an excellent appendix that uses Scripture to support the existence of Purgatory.
Mysteries Surrounding St. Joseph
We all have questions about St. Joseph that we’d like answered. The book highlights several questions that will intrigue readers, such as: was St. Joseph an older man, did he have children from a previous marriage or was he a virgin, and where did his body and soul go after he died? The author uses both typology and theological argument to try and shed light on these difficult questions.
Consecration to St. Joseph
The book concludes with Consecration to St. Joseph. It describes consecration as bringing someone into closer conformity to Christ. Therefore, by entrusting ourselves to St. Joseph, just as Mary and Jesus did in their earthly lives, St. Joseph can help unite us with Jesus.
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Many Blessings,
Angela