Phrases in the Gospel might suggest that St Joseph and Our Lady were merely engaged at the time of the Annunciation—but is this the correct understanding?
Also worth noting, out of interest, that Agreda's Mystical City of God places the espousals (in Book II) well before the Annunication (which is in Book III)
As does Emmerich. Further, the Fathers are divided but we find examples like this:
Jerome: Or this may be considered a testimony to Mary, that Joseph, confident in her purity, and wondering at what had happened, covered in silence that mystery which he could not explain.
Rabanus: He beheld her to be with child, whom he knew to be chaste; and because he had read, "There shall come a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, of which he knew that Mary was come [ed. note: Jerome in loc. Ambros. de Spir. S. ii. 5. and Pseudo-Augustine (t. vi. p. 570.) so apply these words, considering Christ the `Branch' or flower (flos) which is spoken of in the clause following. Cyril Alex. et Theod. in loc. explain it of Christ.], and had also read, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive," he did not doubt that this prophecy should be fulfilled in he did not doubt that this
prophecy should be fulfilled in her.
Origen: But if he had no suspicion of her, how could he be a just man, and yet seek to put her away, being immaculate? He sought to put her away, because he saw in her a great sacrament, to approach which he thought himself unworthy.
Ambrose, in Luc., ii, 1: But as no one puts away what he has not received; in that he was minded to put her away, he admits to have received her.
I’m not yet convinced by Fr Coleridge’s arguments.
Edward Healy Thompson says the same (cf. Chapters XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXVI)
But aside from anything else:
"Whereupon Joseph *her husband*, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately." Matthew 1.19
Also worth noting, out of interest, that Agreda's Mystical City of God places the espousals (in Book II) well before the Annunication (which is in Book III)
http://www.neemcog.com/index_files/2ConceptionChXXI_nee.pdf
http://www.neemcog.com/index_files/2ConceptionChXXII_nee.pdf
As does Emmerich. Further, the Fathers are divided but we find examples like this:
Jerome: Or this may be considered a testimony to Mary, that Joseph, confident in her purity, and wondering at what had happened, covered in silence that mystery which he could not explain.
Rabanus: He beheld her to be with child, whom he knew to be chaste; and because he had read, "There shall come a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, of which he knew that Mary was come [ed. note: Jerome in loc. Ambros. de Spir. S. ii. 5. and Pseudo-Augustine (t. vi. p. 570.) so apply these words, considering Christ the `Branch' or flower (flos) which is spoken of in the clause following. Cyril Alex. et Theod. in loc. explain it of Christ.], and had also read, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive," he did not doubt that this prophecy should be fulfilled in he did not doubt that this
prophecy should be fulfilled in her.
Origen: But if he had no suspicion of her, how could he be a just man, and yet seek to put her away, being immaculate? He sought to put her away, because he saw in her a great sacrament, to approach which he thought himself unworthy.
Ambrose, in Luc., ii, 1: But as no one puts away what he has not received; in that he was minded to put her away, he admits to have received her.
Fathers from the Catena Aurea.