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New Testament History |
The betrothal of Joseph and the Holy VirginJoseph was 25[1] or 30[2] years elder than the Holy Virgin. He was chosen to be the husband of the Holy Virgin in consequence of a flowering tree branch in the Temple.[3] Since the Holy Family celebrated the anniversary of their marriage on Saturday factual Julian 31 December 1 BC and since Christ was born in late 1 BC, Joseph and the Holy Virgin were betrothed at the end of December 2 BC. Since the entrance in the Temple in November 14 BC, the Holy Virgin would have served in the Temple for 12 years and two months (from Thursday factual Julian 4 November 14 BC until the end of December 2 BC). The betrothal took place in Jerusalem and lasted about seven or eight days.[4] The Holy Virgin then returned to Nazareth, while Joseph went to Bethlehem.[5] Joseph and the Holy Virgin were already betrothed at the time of the incarnation of Christ, but they had not yet moved into the same house (Matt 1:18). Only after the incarnation they were living together.[6]
[1] A.C.E., Visionen November 1821, 150: “Er war fünfundzwanzig Jahre und, ich glaube, drei Monate älter als Maria nun.” A.C.E., Visionen Januar 1819, 234a, gives the ages of the Holy Virgin and Joseph at the birth of Christ as “Mutter jung wie 15, Joseph alt wie 40.” [2] A.C.E., Visionen August 1821, 36: “Joseph war dreißig Jahr älter”; A.C.E., Life, 1:218, 1:316. [3] A.C.E., Mary, 132. [4] A.C.E., Mary, 133. [5] A.C.E., Mary, 137-138, 163-164. [6] A.C.E., Mary, 146. |