seen even barbarians that could match him in stature, indeed my girlfriends used to joke that he was a son of Goliath and not of David. (NB David was an ancient Jewish king who slew a giant named Goliath who was threatening Israel) He was long a widower, much older than I, in truth his children from his first wife were all older than me, but he was well settled, the finest carpenter for many miles, a great lover of the Lord and quite handsome too. He spoke to my father and with my consent, for in his kindness Joseph would not marry me otherwise, our marriage was settled. Before our marriage I awoke one night to see a messenger of God clothed in white, shinning like theAs the messenger of the Lord had said she was with child. I greeted her and she replied with these words "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And I remained with her about three months, until the birth of her son, John (NB not Mary's adopted son) and returned home. After this a decree from Rome came that a census be taken. My husband Joseph was of