Virgo narrat sponse, quid sensit statim concepto Filio et que senserunt ipsa et Elizabeth in amplexu mutuo, et de sancta cohabitacione earum et qualiter angelus postea consolabatur eam formidantem et instruebat Ioseph admirantem. Et narrat modum viuendi sanctissimum, quem ipsa et Ioseph tenuerunt, et multas virtutes notabiles Ioseph.
The Visitation and the Angel's Promise
Mary recounts the joy of her meeting with Elizabeth and the angel's reassurance regarding her pregnancy.
The Mother speaks: "When the angel announced to me that the Son of God would be born of me, the moment I gave my consent, I felt something unusual and wonderful within me." So, filled with wonder, I immediately went up to my relative Elizabeth, both to comfort her in her pregnancy and to talk with her about the things the angel had told me. When she met me near the spring and we were enjoying our mutual embraces and kisses, the infant in her womb leaped for joy with a wonderful and visible movement. I, too, felt an unusual joy in my heart, so that my tongue spoke words about God I hadn't even thought of, and my soul could barely contain itself for the sheer happiness. As Elizabeth marveled at the fervor of the Spirit speaking within me, and I in turn marveled no less at the grace of God in her, we both stood there for some days, blessing God together. After this, however, a thought began to stir in my soul: how and with what devotion I should conduct myself toward such great grace given to me, and what I should even answer if I were asked how I conceived, who the father of the child to be born was, or whether Joseph, prompted by the adversary, might suspect something improper about me. And as I was thinking this over, an angel—not unlike the one I had seen before—stood by me and said, 'Our God, who is eternal, is with you and is within you.' Do not be afraid, then, because He Himself will give you the words to speak; He Himself will direct your steps and your places; He Himself will accomplish His work in you, powerfully and wisely.'✦✦
Joseph’s Faith and Holy Household
The angel instructs Joseph to protect the Holy Family, leading to a life of shared virtue, humility, and devotion.
Joseph, however, to whom I had been entrusted, was troubled when he realized I was pregnant; he was amazed and, considering himself unworthy to live with me, he didn't know what to do. The angel spoke to him in a dream: “Don’t turn away from the virgin entrusted to you, because what you heard from her is the absolute truth.” She has conceived by the Spirit of God and will give birth to a son, the Savior of the world. Therefore, serve her faithfully and be the guardian and witness of her purity!” From that day on, Joseph served me as if I were his lady, and I, in turn, humbled myself to perform even his most menial tasks. After this, I stayed in constant prayer, wanting neither to be seen nor to see others, and I went out very rarely, except for major feast days. I also paid attention to the vigils and readings our priests recited, and I set aside specific times for manual labor; I was prudent in my fasting, too, according to what my nature could bear in the service of God. We gave whatever food we had left over to the poor, and were content with what we had. Joseph served me in such a way that no coarse, grumbling, or angry word was ever heard from his lips. For he was most patient in poverty, diligent in his work whenever it was necessary, most gentle toward those who criticized him, most obedient in his service to me, a most ready defender against those who spoke against my virginity, and a most faithful witness to the wonders of God. He was so dead to the world and to the flesh that he desired nothing but heavenly things, and he was so trusting in God’s promises that he would constantly say, 'If only I might live to see the will of God fulfilled!' He rarely attended public gatherings or meetings, because his only desire was to obey the will of God. That is why his glory is great now."
Read the original Latin
Mater loquitur: "Quando angelus nunciabat michi filium Dei nasciturum de me, statim postquam consensi, aliquod insolitum et admirabile sensi in me. Ideo vehementer admirans statim ascendi ad Elizabeth cognatam meam, vt et consolarer illam impregnatam et cum ea conferrem de hiis, que angelus michi nunciauerat.
Cumque ipsa iuxta fontem occurrisset michi et mutuis amplexibus et osculis frueremur, infans in vtero eius mirabili et visibili motu exultando letabatur.
Et ego similiter insolita exultacione tunc mota fui in corde meo ita, vt lingua mea loqueretur inexcogitata verba de Deo, et anima mea tunc vix pre leticia se capiebat.
Cumque Elizabeth miraretur feruorem spiritus, qui loquebatur in me, et ego non dissimiliter mirabar in ea graciam Dei, ambe benedicentes Deum stetimus simul aliquibus diebus.
Post hec autem cepit cogitacio quedam pulsare animum meum, quomodo et quam deuote haberem me ad tantam graciam michi factam, quid eciam responderem, si quererer, quomodo concepi aut quis pater filii nascituri, aut ne forte Ioseph instigante aduersario aliena suspicaretur contra me.
Et ecce michi sic cogitanti angelus non dissimilis ab eo, quem prius videram, astitit dicens: 'Deus noster, qui eternus est, ipse est tecum et in te est.
Ne timeas ergo, quia ipse dabit tibi loqui, ipse diriget gressus tuos et loca, ipse perficiet opus suum tecum potenter et sapienter.'
Ioseph vero, cui commendata fueram, cum intellexisset me impregnatam, admirans et indignum se reputans cohabitare michi anxiabatur nesciens, quid ageret. Cui angelus in sompnis dixit:
'Non recedas a virgine commendata tibi, quia sicut audisti ab ea, sic verissimum est. Concepit enim de Spiritu Dei et pariet filium saluatorem mundi. Ergo serui ei fideliter et esto pudicicie eius custos et testis!'
Deinde ab illo die Ioseph seruiuit michi quasi domine sue et ego eciam ad opera sua minima me humiliabam. Post hec ego continue eram in oracione, raro videri et videre volens et egrediens rarissime nisi ad festa precipua.
Vigiliis quoque et leccionibus, que a sacerdotibus nostris legebantur, intenta fui, habens certa tempora ad labores manuum, et discreta fui ad ieiunia, prout natura mea ferre poterat in seruicio Dei.
Illa vero, que superfuerunt nobis super victualia, dedimus pauperibus contenti de hiis, que habebamus. Ioseph vero sic seruiuit michi, quod numquam audiebatur in ore eius verbum scurrile, numquam murmuriosum, numquam iracundum.
Nam ipse pacientissimus erat in paupertate, sollicitus in labore, vbi necesse fuit, mansuetissimus ad obiurgantes, obedientissimus in obsequio meo, promptissimus defensor contra derogantes virginitati mee, fidelissimus testis mirabilium Dei.
Ipse eciam sic mortuus erat mundo et carni, vt nichil desideraret nisi celestia, sicque erat credulus promissionum Dei, vt continue diceret: 'Vtinam viuam et videam adimpletam voluntatem Dei!'
Nam rarissime venit ad congregaciones hominum et eorum consilia, quia totum desiderium suum fuit obedire voluntati Dei. Ideo nunc gloria sua est magna."
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