Icon of the Father

<p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>In this book I seek to provide a complementary image to my previous book on entrustment to Mary developing on the relationships that have deepened through the contemplative love and prayer that </span><em style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Sheltered within Her Heart </em><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>sought to open up. As that book sought to be only an aid to a deeper entrustment to Mary and with her in her and through her to the immeasurable love of the Trinity himself so this book seeks to be only an aid to growing in understanding of and reverence for Saint Joseph and thus an invitation to deeper relationship with him. Through both of them Mary and Joseph we find the Trinity's life in a particular way made accessible to us unveiled before us and inviting us. What Mary illumines from the perspective of </span><em style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>femininity</em><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> Joseph illumines from that of </span><em style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>masculinity</em><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>. Thus these two books can be understood as a diptych a two-paneled image centered upon the hinge-point of Christ.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Joseph finds himself caught up in a mystery that so far surpasses him and yet which cradles him with incredible tenderness and intimacy and all the resources of his humanity are harnessed in sheltering and loving the Blessed Virgin and the Child conceived and born of her. Thus he is a custodian of the mysteries of God and he invites all of us to step into his shoes to learn to love as he loved and indeed also to entrust ourselves to his care to be sheltered and loved fathered and protected by him just as were Mary and Jesus.</span></p>