In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we read brief snippets of the early life of Jesus and the actions of His parents Joseph and Mary. These stories are proclaimed during the Advent/Christmas season each year from the Pulpit and have become very familiar to all, Christian and non-Christian alike. It may come as a surprise to the modern reader that much more detail is available to anyone who wishes to take the time to do some digging.

These details are the conclusions that were reached by holy men and women as they meditated on the Nativity narratives in the Bible and also on the oral...