herman jozef 3

At age 12...

Herman joined the norbertine monastery of Steinfeld... 

where he was assigned many different jobs. 

He was in frequent demand for the making and repairing of clocks.

At age 40...

The mystical marriage between Herman and the Holy Virgin Mary was one night, in 1190: 

while in church, absorbed in his prayers, he suddenly saw before him the Virgin Mary, unspeakably beautiful, wearing a beautiful dress of bright colors and accompanied by two Angels. 

Herman heard one of the two angels say a few words directed to the other: "With whom should we marry the mother of God?". The other replied: "Who else if not with this brother?"

Then, placing his right hand in the hand of Maria, the angel said: "I commit this Lady as your wife, and therefore I will call you Joseph." 

He added the name Joseph to his first name, under the personal guidance of Our Lady, symbolically taking St. Joseph's place in Mary's affections.

In the basilica of Steinfeld, at the marble sarcophagus, one can read this statement: "Joseph Herman, devoted husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

[bron]