Święty Józef – człowiek walczący z wątpliwościami? Obraz ziemskiego opiekuna Pana Jezusa na podstawie ikony Narodzenia Pańskiego

Abstract

This article attempts to perform an iconographic and theological analysis of the icon of the Nativity. This iconographic type contains an interesting motif related to the doubts experienced by St. Joseph. The first part of the article presents selected passages of the Holy Scripture referring to the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then, in a compressed version, the reader is given an overview of how St. Joseph has been commemorated in the liturgical calendar down through the centuries. The third part of the article shows how the Blessed Bridegroom is depicted in the iconographic canon. The last part presents St. Joseph as a man experiencing doubts related to the mystery of Incarnation. Furthermore, it discusses how he manages to deal with this difficult experience and how he represents all of humanity in this situation.