me to be pregnant, wondering and thinking himself unworthy to dwell with me, was troubled, not knowing what to do, till the angel told him in sleep: ‘‘Depart not from the virgin confided to thee, for it is most true as thou hast heard from her; for she has conceived of the Spirit of God, and shall bear a Son, the Saviour of the world. Therefore, serve her faithfully, and be thou the guardian and witness of her purity.” Then from that day Joseph served me as his lady, and I humbled myself to his lowest labor. After this I was constantly in prayer, rarely wishing to see or be seen, and most rarely going forth, unless to the appointed feasts; and I was assiduous in the watches and readings given by our priests. I had a fixed time for manual labor, and I was discreet in fasting as much as my constitution could bear in God’s service. Whatever we had over our daily sustenance we gave to the poor, content with what we had. Joseph so served me, that no scurrilous, murmuring, or angry word was heard from him, for he was most patient in poverty, solicitous in labor when it was necessary, most mild to those who reproached, most obedient in my service, a most prompt defender against those who gainsayed my virginity, a most
