The Deacon

My ordination as a deacon in 1988 marked the beginning of a profound and joyous journey. The years that followed have been a whirlwind of activity, but every moment of my diaconate, filled with joy and productivity, is a treasure I wouldn’t exchange for anything in the world.

As a deacon, I find immense joy in liturgy, especially preaching. Christmas and the Easter Vigil are the most inspiring times of the year. I also enjoy participating in baptisms, visiting classrooms at Catholic schools and various other tasks. But above all, it’s the opportunity to meet people, to share their joys and sorrows and to be a part of their lives that truly enriches my diaconate. These moments of connection, of shared spirituality, are what make the deacon’s role so fulfilling.

Throughout my years as a deacon, I’ve found a steadfast guide in St. Joseph, a carpenter and the husband of Mary. His life as a man who labored in the secular world and cared for his family resonates deeply with my own experiences. This connection with St. Joseph has been a significant source of strength and inspiration for me, shaping my understanding of the deacon’s role. His dedication to his family, his humility and his service-oriented life are all qualities that I believe are essential for a deacon to embody.

My understanding of Joseph has evolved over the years, from the simple knowledge of him as the head of the Holy Family to a deeper appreciation of his significant role and inspiring character. This journey of understanding, this exploration of Joseph’s life and character, has been a rewarding part of my spiritual growth. I hope it sparks the same curiosity and engagement in you, my peers and mentors in faith.

Unanswered Questions

A figure shrouded in mystery, St. Joseph piques my curiosity. I often ponder his origins, his meeting with Mary and his role as a foster father to Jesus, particularly young Jesus. Questions about these aspects of his life, which may never be fully answered, add to his enigmatic allure, sparking a sense of intrigue and engagement.

The canonical Gospels provide limited information about Joseph, with the most details coming from the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke. Matthew offers the most insights, describing Joseph’s reaction to Mary’s pregnancy and to the dreams by which the angel of the Lord counsels him. Luke focuses more on Mary and the birth of Jesus, providing less detail about Joseph, but both Gospels show that Joseph was a humble and devout follower of his faith’s laws and customs. He demonstrated deep care for Jesus and Mary. He is often described as righteous, generous and faithful. While he did not biologically conceive Jesus, he assumed the role of his legal and earthly father.

A further understanding of Joseph’s daily life and background comes from the noncanonical texts. None of these are considered authoritative or divinely inspired. However, they hold significant value in providing a more comprehensive view of Joseph’s life and character. They often shed light on the theological issues and traditions of the communities from which they originate, providing valuable insights into early Christian communities’ diverse beliefs and practices.

Joseph is prominent in many noncanonical documents, particularly the Protoevangelium of James, the History of Joseph the Carpenter and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. These texts and others offer unique and enlightening perspectives on Joseph’s character and role as Jesus’ father.

Human Glimpses

The Protoevangelium describes how Mary and Joseph met. It tells us how Joseph cared for Mary when she gave birth and how he protected Mary and Jesus from Herod.

The History of Joseph the Carpenter was produced after the Protoevangelium of James. The document tells us where Joseph came from and that he was a Temple priest and a carpenter. It tells of Joseph’s first marriage and his children. It speaks about many other issues in the life of the Holy Family. The latter third of the document focuses on Joseph’s death. Joseph became severely ill, prayed faithfully and purportedly died at the age of 111 years with Jesus at his side.

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a short document that lacks credibility and has been considered heretical. It tells brief stories of young Jesus interacting with various things and people and depicts Joseph as a loving and concerned father.

While these documents tell us many details about Joseph and his life, it must be remembered that they are not canonical, and the details may not be credible. Nevertheless, they present Joseph as a diligent, faith-filled individual. He is an observant Jew who demonstrates his love for his wife and family, particularly for Jesus.

Close to Christ

The canonical and noncanonical documents paint a picture of St Joseph. He was a married man who, after the death of his first wife, remained celibate in his relationship with Mary. As a Temple priest, he certainly must have loved liturgy. He interacted easily with various people, expressed himself well and was a man of prayer, especially in his final years.

Most of all, he loved Jesus. He spoke with him and interacted with him. He cared for and protected Jesus when that care was necessary. At the time of his death, Jesus was with him. This deep love and care for Jesus is a central aspect of Joseph’s life that I believe every deacon should strive to emulate in their service.

What kind of deacon would he be? Joseph would be a more than admirable deacon. He was an intelligent individual with a strong ability to express ideas and his concerns. He was flexible and able to adapt to a great variety of situations. His secular skill as a carpenter enabled him to care for his family in a variety of settings. Joseph experienced adversity. He weathered the death of his first wife. This painful experience would prepare him to help others experiencing similar hardships. His love of prayer and liturgy would also help him immensely as a deacon.

The most important characteristic of Joseph, however, was his closeness to Jesus. He cared for Jesus when the latter was a child, and he was cared for by Jesus when he, Joseph, was old. He loved Jesus, and Jesus loved him.

We see in Joseph the characteristics of a great permanent deacon. He is my model, and I recommend him to every deacon.

DEACON AL DERIVAN is a retired permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.