St. Joseph decides to leave Mary - The Incarnation - Bk4 - Ch2

The Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda describes how Mary remained silent, while St. Joseph`s anxiety continued to increase to the point where he decided he needed to leave. The Blessed Virgin Mary explains how the course of events built up the merits of the holy family, and we can learn from this experience, "...the example of my silence, which you have been writing about, should teach you to use it as a guide in your treatment of the favors and sacraments of the Lord, namely that you keep them concealed within your heart. Although it might at times seem useful to reveal them for the consolation of some soul, you must not act upon this opinion without having first consulted God in prayer, and then your superiors. For these spiritual matters must not be made dependent upon human feelings, which are so much subject to the passions and inclinations of nature. There is always great danger of considering that to be an advantage which is harmful, and a service to God, what is injurious. It is not given to eyes of the flesh and blood (1st Corinthians 2:14) to discern the interior movements, so as to decide which of them are divine and caused by grace, or which are human, engendered by the disorderly affections. Although there is a great difference between these two kinds of affections and their causes, nevertheless, if the creature is not highly enlightened and dead to its passions, it cannot recognize this difference, nor separate the precious from the vile (Jeremiah 15:19)."