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The Truth about Saint Joseph: Encountering the Most Hidden of Saints
Joseph is the most hidden of the saints – a simple, retiring, and humble man of Nazareth. His exterior life reveals nothing extraordinary or striking. Yet he is exalted by the Church as, next to Mary herself, the greatest of all the saints and even Patron of the Universal Church.
Do you know why?
Apparently, the Church knows more about St. Joseph than most of us do. This remarkable book finally breaks the silence.
Drawing not on private revelations or pious legends, this beautiful and edifying work unearths many truths about St. Joseph hidden in the Gospel, to bring them to light and make use of them in Joseph’s honor.
Here you’ll encounter surprising details about the life Joseph led on Earth in the most intimate companionship of Christ as well as the role he is playing even today in the life of the Universal Church.
Among the things you’ll
Why it’s essential that Joseph be descended from King David Why this descendent of Kings was fated to live in poverty and obscurity How Joseph was glorious even in his poverty and humiliation What his daily life in Nazareth was like Why toil and suffering were constant companions to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph How he sanctified his daily labor, and how you can sanctify yours Why, without Joseph, Mary could not have become the Mother of God Why Joseph particularly welcomed the visit of the shepherds How — and why — Joseph was essential to the hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth How Joseph was able to remain calm and courageous in affliction and danger; and how you can, too! The three ways in which St. Joseph is an image of the Heavenly Father Himself Why he’s known as “God’s right-hand man” How even now St. Joseph is a benefactor to all members of Christ’s kingdom, including you! Why his death was the happiest a man has ever endured (and three ways he can help yours be happy, too) Why, in times of perplexity, St. Joseph is best the saint to turn to Four reasons St. Joseph particularly deserves your devotion today And much more!
Do you know why?
Apparently, the Church knows more about St. Joseph than most of us do. This remarkable book finally breaks the silence.
Drawing not on private revelations or pious legends, this beautiful and edifying work unearths many truths about St. Joseph hidden in the Gospel, to bring them to light and make use of them in Joseph’s honor.
Here you’ll encounter surprising details about the life Joseph led on Earth in the most intimate companionship of Christ as well as the role he is playing even today in the life of the Universal Church.
Among the things you’ll
Why it’s essential that Joseph be descended from King David Why this descendent of Kings was fated to live in poverty and obscurity How Joseph was glorious even in his poverty and humiliation What his daily life in Nazareth was like Why toil and suffering were constant companions to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph How he sanctified his daily labor, and how you can sanctify yours Why, without Joseph, Mary could not have become the Mother of God Why Joseph particularly welcomed the visit of the shepherds How — and why — Joseph was essential to the hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth How Joseph was able to remain calm and courageous in affliction and danger; and how you can, too! The three ways in which St. Joseph is an image of the Heavenly Father Himself Why he’s known as “God’s right-hand man” How even now St. Joseph is a benefactor to all members of Christ’s kingdom, including you! Why his death was the happiest a man has ever endured (and three ways he can help yours be happy, too) Why, in times of perplexity, St. Joseph is best the saint to turn to Four reasons St. Joseph particularly deserves your devotion today And much more!
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2017
71 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 4, 2022
Definitely opened my eyes on some important aspects of St. Joseph, as a protector and foster father of Jesus, and the incredible beautiful parallels between him and Joseph of Egypt.
The book speaks to the beauty of St. Joseph's role in the divine story.
The writing isn't good, and it's extreme focus on purity theology detracts from the connection that every man has with St. Joseph.
Also I found out it was originally published in 1932 which explains the soft sexism and orientalism.
The book speaks to the beauty of St. Joseph's role in the divine story.
The writing isn't good, and it's extreme focus on purity theology detracts from the connection that every man has with St. Joseph.
Also I found out it was originally published in 1932 which explains the soft sexism and orientalism.
March 29, 2019
Fr. Maurice Meschler is an inspiring spiritual author who graces the first part of this book with its detailed explanations of the life of Saint Joseph as told in the Gospels. Meschler enriches the pages of the second part with devotions, titles, and patronages of Saint Joseph.
I noticed only one slight issue, and that was the suggestion of the Blessed Mother as a block to Saint Joseph's popularity. I am quite sure that this was unintended.
One thing that shocked me was how perfectly Meschler combined Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition. In the first part, focusing on the life of Saint Joseph as mentioned in the Bible, Meschler interprets Scripture concerning Joseph and fills in the gaps beautifully with Sacred Tradition, art, and devotions.
The Truth about Saint Joseph is surely at the top of my list of books on Saint Joseph.
I noticed only one slight issue, and that was the suggestion of the Blessed Mother as a block to Saint Joseph's popularity. I am quite sure that this was unintended.
One thing that shocked me was how perfectly Meschler combined Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition. In the first part, focusing on the life of Saint Joseph as mentioned in the Bible, Meschler interprets Scripture concerning Joseph and fills in the gaps beautifully with Sacred Tradition, art, and devotions.
The Truth about Saint Joseph is surely at the top of my list of books on Saint Joseph.
March 29, 2019
Fr. Maurice Meschler is an inspiring spiritual author who graces the first part of this book with its detailed explanations of the life of Saint Joseph as told in the Gospels. Meschler enriches the pages of the second part with devotions, titles, and patronages of Saint Joseph.
I noticed only one slight issue, and that was the suggestion of the Blessed Mother as a block to Saint Joseph's popularity. I am quite sure that this was unintended.
One thing that shocked me was how perfectly Meschler combined Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition. In the first part, focusing on the life of Saint Joseph as mentioned in the Bible, Meschler interprets Scripture concerning Joseph and fills in the gaps beautifully with Sacred Tradition, art, and devotions.
The Truth about Saint Joseph is surely at the top of my list of books on Saint Joseph.
I noticed only one slight issue, and that was the suggestion of the Blessed Mother as a block to Saint Joseph's popularity. I am quite sure that this was unintended.
One thing that shocked me was how perfectly Meschler combined Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition. In the first part, focusing on the life of Saint Joseph as mentioned in the Bible, Meschler interprets Scripture concerning Joseph and fills in the gaps beautifully with Sacred Tradition, art, and devotions.
The Truth about Saint Joseph is surely at the top of my list of books on Saint Joseph.
April 24, 2020
Great little read about St Joseph and his role as Foster Father of Jesus. Explained the difficult journey to Egypt and the role he played throughout Jesus’ life. Details his lineage from David and his line of 19 Kings.
The role of Joseph did not receive attention until the 20th Century when he was recognized as the Patron of the Church.
The book also speculates about when his death occurred with Mary and Jesus holding him.
Joseph’s life was humble and he was hardworking, always for his Foster Son and Mary. He also preserved her virginity and his.
The role of Joseph did not receive attention until the 20th Century when he was recognized as the Patron of the Church.
The book also speculates about when his death occurred with Mary and Jesus holding him.
Joseph’s life was humble and he was hardworking, always for his Foster Son and Mary. He also preserved her virginity and his.
May 26, 2019
A unique look into the story of the foster-father of Christ. I found the author a bit difficult to read, but that's just me.
May 22, 2020
Had a hard time reading as couldn’t get into it. Seems like a lot of repeating of words. And he was the father of Jesus so not a lot known about him even now. Never read again.
June 28, 2023
Great for short daily or weekly meditations on the greatness of St. Joseph. Loved this part at the end of the book:
"For several decades a new force has been developing and today is fully developed. It is the power of the sons of untiring labor, but not the well-ordered, God-ordained labor based on trust in God. This latter type of labor gives no cause for anxiety since it has been in the world from the beginning of the human race, is the lot of all men, and is their honor and privilege. God has blessed it and in His Son sanctifIed and almost deified it. We fear rather that restless drudgery, that toil divorced from God and the supernatural; we fear that unbounded self-seeking, greed for money, possessions, pleasures; we fear the power of a proud and stubborn self-sufficiency and self-deification; we fear the power of a crude, untrammeled self-government that would erect its throne without God and the Church, on the ruins of the old order and existing institutions, yea, upon the ruins of family life itself. The true names of this monster, the unholy progeny of all social disorders, are unbelief, materialism, revolution, anarchy, class and racial hatred. Where shall we find the help provided by God for these evil times? Where is the new man, the new power prepared by God to take a decided stand on behalf of justice, order, God's glory, and man's welfare? Who can it be but the exalted personage of unselfish attachment to duty, the man of obedience, faith, and trust in God, of humility and willing devotion to labor? Who but Saint Joseph, the calm, earnest man of noble ancestry, but poor and humble by choice, Saint Joseph, who on a former occasion saved the nascent Church, then, represented by the Holy Family, from the bloody hands of a ruthless persecutor? Why else has God been preparing a way in the Church during the last century for the devotion to Saint Joseph? Why else has He exalted him just at these critical times to the position of protector of the universal Church? He is indeed the man in whose hands God has placed the destinies of the Church. Let us then trust in him. We shall certainly not be confounded."
"For several decades a new force has been developing and today is fully developed. It is the power of the sons of untiring labor, but not the well-ordered, God-ordained labor based on trust in God. This latter type of labor gives no cause for anxiety since it has been in the world from the beginning of the human race, is the lot of all men, and is their honor and privilege. God has blessed it and in His Son sanctifIed and almost deified it. We fear rather that restless drudgery, that toil divorced from God and the supernatural; we fear that unbounded self-seeking, greed for money, possessions, pleasures; we fear the power of a proud and stubborn self-sufficiency and self-deification; we fear the power of a crude, untrammeled self-government that would erect its throne without God and the Church, on the ruins of the old order and existing institutions, yea, upon the ruins of family life itself. The true names of this monster, the unholy progeny of all social disorders, are unbelief, materialism, revolution, anarchy, class and racial hatred. Where shall we find the help provided by God for these evil times? Where is the new man, the new power prepared by God to take a decided stand on behalf of justice, order, God's glory, and man's welfare? Who can it be but the exalted personage of unselfish attachment to duty, the man of obedience, faith, and trust in God, of humility and willing devotion to labor? Who but Saint Joseph, the calm, earnest man of noble ancestry, but poor and humble by choice, Saint Joseph, who on a former occasion saved the nascent Church, then, represented by the Holy Family, from the bloody hands of a ruthless persecutor? Why else has God been preparing a way in the Church during the last century for the devotion to Saint Joseph? Why else has He exalted him just at these critical times to the position of protector of the universal Church? He is indeed the man in whose hands God has placed the destinies of the Church. Let us then trust in him. We shall certainly not be confounded."
August 17, 2021
I would have given this four stars instead of three but it was a little hard to read, especially at the beginning. Part of the reason is that it was translated from German; and partly because it was first published in 1922, so the way of speaking/writing was changed. Also, Fr. Don Calloway's book, "Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father", although not a biography per se,
was just excellent if you compare.
was just excellent if you compare.
October 12, 2021
Love of St. Joseph
Before reading this book, I was really ignorant about St. Joseph. As a result of reading this book, I now know more about this important, loving and gentle saint. I can truly now say that I love St. Joseph!
Before reading this book, I was really ignorant about St. Joseph. As a result of reading this book, I now know more about this important, loving and gentle saint. I can truly now say that I love St. Joseph!
July 29, 2025
Some really great insights into the life, duty, and purpose of this oft-forgotten saint. The book began to get very repetitive in the second half, often recycling points, phrases, and perspectives. A good, worthwhile read, but ultimately felt distractingly repetitive.
March 14, 2024
A good starting place for meditation on the life of St. Joseph; but some of the material is speculative, while being presented as the authoritative Truth, which rubs me the wrong way a bit.
January 20, 2025
Very good information about Joseph's life and how he helps us, but a bit dry.
Read
December 24, 2025Pub. 2017
May 29, 2024
St. Joseph, terror of demons, guardian of virgins, protector of the Holy Church and diligent protector of Christ, pray for us!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews