Mary And Susanna

Qui ergo liberavit Susannam mulierem castam, coniugem fidam, a falso testimonio seniorum  ipse liberavit et virginem Mariam a falsa suspicione mariti sui. Inventa est ergo virgo illa praegnans, ad quam vir non accesserat. Uterus quidem fetu intumuerat, sed virginalis integritas manserat. Seminatorem fidei fide conceperat. Dominum q in suum corpus assumpserat, non eius corpus violari permiserat. Marito tamen tamquam homini venit in suspicionem. Aliunde esse credebat, quod de se non esse sciebat, et ipsum aliunde adulterium suspicabatur. Ab angelo corrigitur. Quare dignus fuit ab angelo corrigi? Quia non in illo erat malevola suspicio, quales Apostolus dicit, malevolas suspiciones nasci inter fratres. Malevolae suspiciones sunt calumniantium, benevolae suspiciones sunt gubernantium. Licet de filio male suspicari, sed filio non licet calumniari. Suspicaris malum, sed optas invenire bonum. Qui benevole suspicatur, vinci cupit; tunc enim bene laetatur, quando falsum inventum fuerit quod male suspicatur. Talis erat Ioseph circa coniugem suam, cui corpore non erat mixtus, sed tamen fide iam fuerat copulatus. Venit ergo et Virgo in falsam suspicionem. Sed sicut pro Susanna adfuit in Daniele Spiritus, sic pro Maria adfuit Ioseph angelus : Noli timere accipere Mariam coniugem tuam. Quod enim de ea nascitur, de Spiritu Sancto est. Ablata suspicio est, quia inventa redemptio est. Sanctus Augustinus Hipponensis, Sermons ad Populum, Sermones De Scripturis Veteris et Novi Testamenti, CCCXLIII, Tractatus De Susanna et Ioseph  Source: Migne PL 38.1507

Therefore He who liberated the chaste lady Susanna, a faithful wife, from the false witness of the elders, 1 also liberated the virgin Mary from the misplaced suspicion of her husband. That virgin was found to be pregnant, to whom her man had not come. 2 Her womb swelled with child, but the integrity of her virginity persisted. In faith she conceived the sower of the faith. The Lord who by her took up His body, did not permit violation of her body. However, to her husband, as a man, came suspicion. From another he thought it to be, because from himself he knew it not to be, and from another he suspected adultery. By an angel he was corrected. Why was he worthy to be corrected by an angel? Because his was not a malevolent suspicion, the sort which the Apostle speaks of: that give birth to malevolent suspicions among brothers. 3 Malevolent suspicions are calumny, benevolent suspicions pertain to direction. It is permitted that one suspect a son of wrongdoing but not that one calumniate him. You suspect evil, but you wish to find good. He who suspects benevolently, he desires to be refuted, that he might rejoice in good when he finds that the evil he suspected is false. So it was with Joseph and his wife, to whom he had not been joined in the body, but whom he had however joined with in faith. Thus the Virgin came under false suspicion. But as for Susanna the Spirit was near in Daniel, so for Mary the angel came to Joseph. 'Do not be unwilling to take Mary as your wife. For what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.'4 Suspicion is removed, because redemption is discovered. Saint Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on the Old and New Testament, from Sermon 343, On Susanna And Joseph 1 Dan 13 2 Mt 1.19 3 1 Tim 6.4 4 Mt 1.18-20