The lives of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus as envisioned by the Early Church Fathers and by Mystics and Visionaries are presented here in the form of a diary that Joseph and Mary might have kept. Based on stories well-known and even preached upon during the Early Church, the events of the Nativity are illuminated and give a more intimate look into the events that changed history forever. Nothing contained in Scripture is changed, rather, the opinions reached by the ancient voices on matters where Scripture is silent are offered for prayerful consideration. From Elaine Lyons Bach: When you love someone, you want to know everything you can about what formed their lives. Dennis P McGeehan commendably describes the events of the hidden life of Christ using writings of early church fathers, Saints, and doctors of the church. The technique of writing the story as journals of St. Joseph and St. Mary is what gives The Diaries of Joseph and Mary its edge. I read this book a few pages at a time as a meditation and am glad I did. The reader feels allowed to listen in on the secret intimate thoughts of the Holy Parents and thus is drawn close in their circle of love. I wish I had had this book long ago to give to a student who told me he always felt sorry for Joseph because he married Mary expecting a very different life. I was able to give him an answer at the time, but this book delves a lot further into Joseph's story and gives clear, sensible reasons formed in the contemplations of the magisterium. I will share this book with my family, but I will want it back next advent to walk the ancient journey again with the Beloved and His earthly parents. From Larry Petersen: Dennis McGeehan has given all people; Catholic/Christians, Jews, Fundamentalists and even "Nones", a fascinating, unconventional look into the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, aka The Holy Family. Mr. McGeehan, besides using the well-known Bible references about the birth and childhood of Jesus, also researched oral tradition and writings from the early Church to accomplish his goal of writing this book. People like St. Irenaeus, St. Athanasius, St. John Chrysostom and even St. Jerome were researched so this book might be put together. The result of Mr. McGeehan's efforts is a unique and mesmerizing narrative allowing the reader to take a look into the to the very hearts and minds of the Members of The Holy Family . In diary form, Joseph and Mary each write about their lives together as husband and wife and parents to the God-man. As the days and months turn into years we are taken inside their possible thoughts as they journal about the deep love they have for each other, the anxieties they feel as they realize who the Child in Mary's womb really is and how He must be protected at all cost. They write of their journeys to Bethlehem for Jesus' birth and then to Egypt to escape the maniacal Herod who wants to kill Him. What I really loved were the parts where they were just living their simple lives together, day after day, week after week, year after year, in Nazareth, just like other hard working, average folks do. The journaling continues up and through the death of Joseph. An appendix with 101 Questions and Answers follows the narrative. I call St. Joseph the "Shadow Saint" because so little is known about him. Yet he was the man who cared for The Son of God and His Mom and protected them and fed them and housed them and was the best husband and dad ever. Dennis McGeehan has done us all a great favor by capturing the true essence of Joseph the man, the perfect feminism of Mary and their union together in raising the Redeemer of all of us. Treat yourself to a beautiful and unique read about The Holy Family. It is a wonderful experience. Thank you Mr. McGeehan---Well-Done!