About Mary and Joseph

[Verbum]

Hi Jack,

So we use thes Apocrypha with showing the Assumption of Mary and her Virginity until death but some parts (even if a Saint backed it) were rejected later for not having proof or were simply rejected outright.

We do not use the Apocrypha to support Mary’s assumption or virginity. We use the undying tradition of the Church, as evidenced in the consensus of the faithful in unity with their bishops and the Holy Father. Apostolic teaching is transmitted to us from generation to generation in an unbroken chain that links us directly to Christ.

Verbum

 

[Nan_S]

Is this account wrong?

ACCOUNT *this is a link, click it.

It seems to me that Jesus burried Joseph at 111 years of age.

Or is a hollywood story more accurate than a writing from the church at it’s beginning???

I just noticed something. That “History of Joseph the Carpenter” account you found specifically contradicts the Gospel of Matthew.

In The History of Joseph the Carpenter, Mary was received into Joseph’s household two years before she became pregnant with Jesus.

In the gospel, Mary does not enter Joseph’s household for the first time until after Jesus is conceived and the angel appears in Joseph’s dream.

That’s a pretty big sticking point, since it is heavily relied upon to validate the Virgin Birth account. If I have to pick one or the other as authoritative, I’ll take the gospel.

It’s a nice story. And I appreciate the link … to New Advent, no less, without any kind of disclaimer that it is a legend, nor when it was written, nor by whom !!!

Hey, here’s another ancient tale, widely believed as fact: Didja ever hear the one about George Washington and the cherry tree?

Nan

 

[ronald44481]

A Tradional Catholic Priest Of The Latin Mass
Told Me That Mary Was 14 And St Joesph Was
16. St Joesph Died When He Was 36. Mary Lived
In Prepetual Virginity

Read The 3rd Part Of Summa Theologica

 

[Ruthmary]

It’s a nice story. And I appreciate the link … to New Advent, no less, without any kind of disclaimer that it is a legend, nor when it was written, nor by whom !!!

Nan

I did a little searching on the New Advent site. On the page “Apocrypha” under the subhead *Arabic Gospel of the Infancy *the last sentence is: An originally Arabic “History of Joseph the Carpenter” is published in Tischendorf’s collection of apocrypha. It describes St. Joseph’s death, related by Our Lord to His disciples. It is a tasteless and bombastic effort, and seems to date from about the fourth century.
The bolding on the words tasteless and bombastic was added by me. This appears to be Catholic Encyclopedia’s take on this “history” of St. Joseph.

Happy New Year!

 

[suburbanbanshee]

Don’t be too hard on the non-heretical “Bible fanfic” works. Some of them are good, some of them are silly, but they are all a window into the minds of Christians down the ages. Take them for what they are; no more and no less.

For example, Madeleine L’Engle has a beautiful picture book based on the “Bible fanfic” idea that all the desert animals came to worship Christ during the Flight to Egypt. (From some versions of the Pseudo-Gospel of Matthew, if I recall correctly, which I probably don’t.) It does have some scriptural typology in mind (the bits in Isaiah about the lion and the lamb lying down together, not to mention the Suffering Servant being a friend of dragons and owls). But it’s mostly just pretty, interesting, nifty for artists (and writers like L’Engle), and just possible enough for folks to keep copying it down through the centuries.

Some of the pseudo stuff about Joseph’s death is waaaaay over the top, but it did remind the faithful that Joseph probably died with Jesus (and Mary) at his side. So if it hadn’t been for the silly Bible fanfic, Joseph might never have gotten his reputation as an example of a happy and well-prepared death.

So think of this stuff (when it’s not heretical) as early devotional novels.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

So think of this stuff (when it’s not heretical) as early devotional novels.

That is what most will say and agree to, but I think I was looking for some facts regarding Joseph and Mary (some history to know them better).

It seems so little is known of both and they are both important figures (especially Mary) that I wish I had more.

 

[NotWorthy]

That is what most will say and agree to, but I think I was looking for some facts regarding Joseph and Mary (some history to know them better).

It seems so little is known of both and they are both important figures (especially Mary) that I wish I had more.

That would also be true of John the Baptist. I was listening to today’s Gospel (John 1:29-34) and lamenting that we don’t know more about John the Baptist and what he taught and how he lived.

There was supposed to be an Essene community within sight of where John baptized at the river Jordan. It would have been nice if they would have left us something about him in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Too bad.

 

[Mintaka]

There was supposed to be an Essene community within sight of where John baptized at the river Jordan. It would have been nice if they would have left us something about him in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

“The bug-eating guy was down at the crick again. Big crowd.”

“Huh.”

“He told these soldiers their job was okay as long as they didn’t mug anybody or bitch about their pay.”

“That child of darkness! Come the Messiah, he’ll be the first up against the wall, losing his head!”

“Funny – he was just saying the same thing.”

 

[NotWorthy]

“The bug-eating guy was down at the crick again. Big crowd.”

“Huh.”

“He told these soldiers their job was okay as long as they didn’t mug anybody or bitch about their pay.”

“That child of darkness! Come the Messiah, he’ll be the first up against the wall, losing his head!”

“Funny – he was just saying the same thing.”

Ancient Jews saying, “Crick”. That’s funny!