When last we thought about St Joseph, he was abandoning himself to a life of self-sacrifice by his vow of virginity. Since then he has made the sacrifice of sparing Mary from their little home to go and do an act of charity for her kinswoman, and now that that is over, it is probably Joseph himself who goes to fetch her home again. Of the visit of the Archangel to his wife Joseph knows nothing, and Mary keeps the secret locked within her heart. She has not revealed it to anyone. (It was the Holy Ghost who told Elizabeth, and JESUS Himself who saluted John.) But trouble is in store for those two faithful souls. This is natural. It would be strange if GOD did not take us at our word when we make the sacrifice of ourselves to Him! It would look as if He did not believe us. "Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately." (St Matt. i. 18, 19.) How much is told in those few simple words! What anguish of soul do they cover! How could Joseph bear to have suspicions of his wife, whom he considered to be purity itself, and whom he loved so tenderly? And yet he was forced to suspect, and as a just man was obliged to keep the law--namely, write a bill of divorce, give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. (Deut. xxiv. 1.) He made up his mind to do this as _privately_ as possible, shielding her secret from everyone except the two witnesses who were necessary for the bill of divorce. How nobly Joseph acted! He was ready, for the sake of right, to sacrifice what was most dear to him, to crush at one blow his most cherished affections! No wonder the Holy Spirit calls him a just man! No wonder that he was the one in all the world whom GOD could trust to co-operate with Himself! And if Joseph suffered, how much more did Mary in seeing him thus troubled, and knowing that she was the cause of his distress. One word from her would have been sufficient to clear away all the difficulties--and it almost seemed as if it would be for the glory of GOD to say the word--at any rate it would have justified her, put an end to Joseph's trouble, and saved her from suspicion, and even perhaps shame and humiliation. But Mary has made her sacrifice--has said her _Fiat_--and this is her first great trial, caused entirely by the fact of her nearness to JESUS, and of the union between her life and His. And so she does not say the word--she does not take back her sacrifice, but meets it generously. It is not for her to publish GOD'S secrets. His dealings with her are for herself, and are not to be shared even with one as dear to her as is St Joseph, unless GOD bids her. Mary is silent and abandons herself and her trouble and all that concerns her to GOD.