The Betrothal of the Holy Virgin and St Joseph : Texts

The Testing of the Suitors of the Virgin

The Testing of the Suitors of the Virgin, J-J Tissot

''According to the Apocryphal Gospels, the claims of the various suitors of the Holy Virgin were tested in the following manner. The suitors, who all had to be of the race of David, and must none of them have contracted any other alliance, each brought with him a rod. All these rods were placed in the Holy of Holies, and the owner of the rod which should flower would be the one chosen to be the husband of Mary. The legend tells us that there were three thousand suitors, but that Joseph, dreading the test, held himself aloof on the appointed day; the High Priest, Abiathar, wearing the sacerdotal robes with the twelve bells, came forth from the Holy of Holies, bearing in his hand the rod of Joseph, which had been pointed out to him by an angel. When it was given to Joseph, a white dove issued from it and, soaring up to Heaven, disappeared.

When the High Priest had to enter the Holy of Holies, a long cord was fastened round his waist, the end of which trailed far behind him and remsained outside in the Hekal, whilst the wearer, drawing aside in succession the various curtains, passed beyond them and disappeared. If the twinkling of the twelve bells at the edge of his robe ceased for too long at a time, the watchers concluded that death had overtaken him, and as no-one was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies under any pretext whatever, the body was drawn out by means of a cord.'' [Taken from The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by J. James Tissot, Sampson, Low, Marston, London, 1897]

The Betrothal of the Holy Virgin and St Joseph

The Betrothal of the Holy Virgin and St Joseph. J-J Tissot

Saint Luke - Chapter 1

[26] In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth,
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

[27] ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David : et nomen virginis Maria.
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.


Saint Matthew - Chapter 1

[18] Christi autem generatio sic erat : cum esset desponsata mater ejus Maria Joseph, antequam convenirent inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu Sancto.
Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum tutus semper sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam