In the Workshop of St. Joseph
, by the Rev. Heuser, presents the reader with a fictional account taking place at the time of the Holy Family's flight to Egypt, and later return to Nazareth.
It follows several fictional characters, Eliab, his daughter Zelah who becomes a servant for the Holy Family, and his son Ahijah, all of whom are Jews living in Egypt. Zelah accompanies the Holy Family back to Nazareth, and Eliab and Ahijah follow them, ultimately taking up residence in Nazareth itself. The story allows Fr. Heuser not only to illustrate the circumstances in Israel during the first century, the rites and ceremonies of the Jews which the Holy Family knew and participated in, but also the prefigurement of the Messiah in the Scripture, as well as the spiritual and moral meaning of the tools in Joseph's workshop.
is a beautiful and spiritually enriching story for youth and adults alike, weaving Fr. Heuser's erudition and use of 1
st
century archeology with a wonderful and pious story.