First-time Bella Vista author publishes novel on St. Joseph

St. Bernard parishioner R. Desbrow Stewart Jr. intrigued by the saint's 'courage, fidelity'

By Alesia Schaefer
NWA correspondent

When the Holy Spirit gently nudges a person, the choice is to listen or ignore that small voice. R. Desbrow Stewart Jr. decided to listen.

Fast forward four years, what began with a nudge developed into a little exploration, that soon after became the title of Stewart’s recently released book, “God’s Courageous Carpenter: The Life of St. Joseph.”

Stewart, a parishioner of St. Bernard Church in Bella Vista, describes his debut novel as a religious, historical fiction on the life of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. While closely following the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, the book details from the time St. Joseph was born in Bethlehem until his death in Nazareth.

Stewart, 75, admits that even while writing on the saint seemed an overwhelming subject, it was a topic worth pursuing.

“What intrigued me most about St. Joseph,” Stewart said, “was his courage, his fidelity and his integrity. He had a major role to play in raising Jesus.”

But Stewart’s search to find a complete, comprehensive and readable biography of St. Joseph came up short.

An attorney by trade, and undaunted by doing extensive research, Stewart consequently decided to continue his study on this little known man and father who played a big part in the life of Jesus.

In addition to his research on Joseph, the man, Stewart delved into Joseph, the carpenter, and researched the topic of ancient Roman woodworking. He learned what carpenters built in those times and how they built it. This exploration led him to more inspiration on his subject.

The “miraculous staircase” in the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, N.M., Stewart said, is a spiral staircase built with primitive tools and no nails in the late 1800s, by an unknown carpenter after the nuns prayed for stairs to get to the choir loft in the church.

“When I saw this staircase the nuns credited St. Joseph with building,” Stewart said, “it made an impression on me and really was another inspiration for me.”

The visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, an Augustinian nun at the Convent of Agnetenberg in Westphalia, Germany, who had the gift of seeing past, present and future, were another inspiration. Her visions were written down by Clemons Bertano and described in detail in the book “The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” Many of her visions contained direct and indirect references to St. Joseph.

Research aside, the dialogue of the novel undoubtedly establishes it as a work of fiction, but Stewart sought to stay true to its spiritual authenticity with the guidance of Father M. Price Oswalt, who at the time was the pastor of the St. Joseph Old Cathedral in Oklahoma City. 

“Father Oswalt was helpful in making sure that the religious and historical aspects of the novel were accurate,” Stewart said.

Although Stewart is no longer filing briefs or writing legal articles as an attorney or judge, he has continued learning and teaching. Currently, he presents a class on introduction to comparative religions as well as teaching religious education to high school students. He also serves as a Eucharistic minister to the homebound.

Stewart credits his wife of 50 years, Patricia, and their three children with the inspiration to be a better father. “St. Joseph is the ideal role model for a Christian father,” he said. “He spent the better part of his life protecting Our Lord from the tirades of King Herod and took care of Mary and Jesus. He exemplified the courage that we men have to use to protect our families.”

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