son. my son

04/05/2024

What do you think Jesus's first word was?

JOKE-OGRAPHY: 1. "Annunciation" (announcing something) and "enunciation" (pronouncing something) are two words that sound very similar, so I took the Biblical Annunciation (when the angel Gabriel announced Christ's birth to Mary) and set it beside an imagining of Jesus pronouncing -- or enunciating -- His first word. I alluded to this pun a couple weeks ago in a previous cartoon's description, then decided it ought to have its own comic. 2. My sisters suggested "Abba" as Jesus's first word. I thought it was perfect, because it's a plausible first word for a baby, since it's made up of simple syllables -- like "mama" or "dada" -- but it's also got that Son-of-God vibe to it.

I need to have a tough conversation with my husband at some point in the near future, and just thinking about it makes me shake, cry, and feel so anxious. None of those are good.

Please pray for me.

And my husband.

The Dream of Saint Joseph by Francisco Goya

What if we had a prayer to Joseph like we do for Mary?

Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid, for it is through the Holy Spirit that this Child has been conceived in her; She will bear a son and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Most chaste spouse St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, let us come to you.

(Based on Matthew 1:20-25 and Ite Ad Joseph.)

Stained Glass Nativity

Giovanni Battista Gaulli, called Il Baciccio (Italian, 1639-1709) Saint Joseph Embracing the Infant Christ, ca.1670-75 Norton Simon Museum

Edgewood Court of St. Joseph, Michigan, pictured in the 1960s and the same location in 2023. The motel has been demolished and replaced by a rental car company. The onsite restaurant is still there and now operates as Lee's Hunan Chinese Restaurant.

"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨."

Augh I just remembered a question I’ve been meaning to ask: is Joseph (legal dad of Jesus) an actual Saint? Because while watching It’s a Wonderful Life, it seems like he is, but it also seems like once Jesus makes his way out he just… doesn’t get another mention? Or very little mention? I’m confused about the role the dad who stepped up has

Yes! My man St. Joseph is the best. He’s the ultimate husband, he’s the one we all aspire to be like.

It can be assumed that he died during Jesus’ childhood/teenage years.

St Joseph and young Jesus Christ in the workshop

12/23/2022

Her poor virgin ears!

___

JOKE-OGRAPHY: Beeping is associated with cars and traffic.  I have used this to Ryan Jonsun everyone.  You see, a reader might think that all the beeps in the background of this traffic-based story arc were car-beeps in pre-automobicular times, but actually they were the kinds of beeps used for censoring curse words.  Joseph is hearing the swears themselves, not the beeps, but Mary's only hearing the beeps because her virgin ears are auto-censoring the language.  So this comic is technically from Mary's perspective, which is extremely convenient for me, the cartoonist, because that means I didn't have to write any swears and get canceled by every Christian Minecraft server from here to Tim Buck 2.  How serendipitous!

La Sagrada Familia, by Sofia Novelli

I feel like Catholics and other Christians tend to hold up the Holy Family as the ideal role model of a nuclear family; but Mary was pregnant outside of wedlock, and Joseph was not Jesus's bio dad. The Holy Spirit (the One Who conceived Jesus) is referred to with feminine language in the original text of the Scripture. According to the Church, Mary and Joseph never consummated their relationship; instead adopting more kids. At Jesus' request, John the Beloved took in Mary as his own Mother--that's chosen family.

None of these things exactly fits the ideals of a nuclear marriage and family which Christians espouse--in fact, it would be considered scandalous. But they were a Holy Family nonetheless. It's almost like family can be complicated and not fit into lines or boxes, and still be built on love and honoring to God

St. Joseph, Terror of Demons, cast your solemn gaze upon the devil and all his minions, and protect us with your mighty staff.

You fled through the night to avoid the devil’s wicked designs;

now with the power of God, smite the demons as they flee from you!

Grant special protection, we pray, for children, fathers, families, and the dying.

By God’s grace, no demon dares approach while you are near, so we beg of you, always be near to us! Amen.