A STARRING ROLE FOR
ST. JOSEPH St. Joseph may not have speaking parts in Scripture, but his role in the life of Jesus—and ours—is hardly a bit part. A film reviewer explores characters that showcase Joseph’s virtues. By Sister Rose Pacatte, FSP
AK2/ISTOCK
I
n his apostolic letter proclaiming 2021 as the Year of St. Joseph, Pope Francis details many of St. Joseph’s virtues as the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus: He was a loving and tender caregiver; a protector and defender of his family; a dignified and honest worker; noble of heart, trustworthy, and mature. Joseph taught Jesus to make his own decisions as any father should. He confronted crisis after crisis and creatively found a way to resolve them. Trusting in divine providence, Joseph knew that God acts through events and people. As a film reviewer, it occurred to me that St. Joseph’s virtues, or “habits of being,” are often seen in characters in television and films—some directly and others indirectly. As Catholics, these characters may especially resonate with us as the Year of St. Joseph concludes December 8. Of course, myriad films and television shows that tell the Christmas story feature St. Joseph as an essential character. Recent films delve into Joseph’s personality and develop an actual character arc. Examples include Catherine Hardwicke’s The Nativity Story (2006), Christopher Spencer’s Son of God (2014), and Cyrus Nowrasteh’s The Young Messiah (2016). Beyond these more biographical treatments, we also can see glimpses of St. Joseph’s virtues in memorable father figures featured on the big and small screen. These characters are all flawed to some degree and do not reach the heroic height we attribute to St. Joseph. Yet, even though some may seem improbable as role models, their virtues resemble those of the saint, and their stories can inspire us.
StAnthonyMessenger.org | December 2021/January 2022 • 37
