The Mysteries

"Long ago, a world-weary middle-aged man was drawn into a supernatural scheme to save the human race. We never got to hear his side of the story. Until now."

St. Joseph was a middle-aged widower with a large family when he was called to become St. Mary's husband. A conservative Jew of the line of David, he was not prepared for the changes that would be made in his life. He absolutely was not ready to take orders from a supernatural vision who called himself Gabriel!

Arranged marriages were the norm in the first century CE. An amazingly beautiful and serene teenager and her (almost) unwilling husband grow to understand and love each other, while fulfilling Biblical prophesies regarding the Messiah.

All names are in current usage, some among today's conservative Jews. Very little clothing and household descriptions are employed, allowing the listener to view the characters in a contemporary light.

This is a biblical romance. It is Bible-based, and nearly all characters are taken from the New Testament. The narrator is a mature, fatherly figure, educated and an elder in the local synagogue. He has many friends and coworkers, is well-regarded by all and is a figure of authority and respect in his family.

There is one short chapter at the end where the narration changes to Joseph's elder son. While a lot of dialog includes women, all conversation can be heard as if remembered by the narrator.

This is not a book of humor, although some comic relief is inserted as a part of daily life. The baby who will change the Western world was raised normally in a loving family and close-knit town. His heritage and upbringing made him the man who later took a bunch of fishermen and led them into a New World Order. He had to be homespun and good-humored himself!

This Joseph was just the man to raise such a prodigy.