Nazareth, the Holy Family & the Hidden Years – Podcast

12 minute podcast that describes the lifestyle of the Holy Family in Nazareth during the “hidden years” before Jesus launched his public ministry.

Hidden Years in Nazareth

The four gospels tells us very little about the life of Jesus between his birth and his baptism besides his presentation forty days after his birth, the flight to Egypt and return to Nazareth, and his pilgrimage to Jerusalem with his family at age 12.

But nonetheless, we know a great deal about what his life and the life of his parents were like.  Archaeological excavations of Nazareth show us that it was a tiny agricultural hamlet of perhaps fifty extended families who were, most likely, all inter-related, living in extended family homes often with cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents.  We know the daily prayer life of Jewish men and women during this time, and what it was like to attend the annual feasts in Jerusalem.

The Town of Joseph

Dr. Italy, who is here inteviewed by Anna Mitchell, has been to Nazareth nearly thirty times, most recently to film Ascension press’ new ground-breaking video bible study on Christ called “Jesus: the Way, the Truth and the Life.”  The second episode in this ten-part series is shot largely in Nazareth providing a visual survey of what is discussed in this podcast.  In both the video study and in this podcast, we come more to appreciate the unique role of Joseph who is often neglected when people study the gospels and the life of Christ.

Dr. Italy appears weekly on the Sonrise Morning show, a production of Sacred Heart Radio.  You can listen to this show broadcast live Monday through Friday via the EWTN Global Catholic Radio, a network of over 120 local affiliate stations in the US.  You can find podcasts from the Sonrise Morning on both Sacred Heart radio site and www.crossroadsinitiative.com.

For more great resources on Nazareth, Bethlehem and the Christmas story, visit the CHRISTMAS INCARNATION section of the Crossroads Initiative Library.

To subscribe to Dr. Italy’s weekly podcast and never miss an episode, visit http://crossroadsinitiative.libsyn.com/ or the Catholic Heritage with Dr Italy podcasts on iTunes

Banner/featured image The Holy Family with a Bird by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. Public domain.