Joseph
was a just and pious man. He noticed that Mary, to whom he was betrothed, was
expecting a child. Since he loved her and did not want to do her an injustice,
he thought about how he could separate himself from her without attracting
attention. That night, however, he saw a messenger from God, an angel. The
angel said to him: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid. Take Mary as your
wife. The child she is expecting comes from God’s Spirit. She will have a son
and you shall call him Jesus. For he will reconcile the people with God. Thus
the words spoken by the prophet Isaiah were fullfilled: Behold, the virgin
will conceive. She will give birth to a son who will be called Immanuel. His
name means: ‘God is with us’.