[DManA]

Why would she marry Joseph if she had no intention of ever consumating the marriage? How is that a marriage?

It was because she had no intention of ever being diddled!

[Tantumergo]

"Why would she marry Joseph if she had no intention of ever consumating the marriage? How is that a marriage?"

The fathers have a number of hypotheses about this - it could be that Joseph was going to act primarily as her protector.

It could be that Joseph was a much older man who had been widowed, but who still had young children who needed caring for - no welfare in those days you know?

I guess we will only find out the answer to these kind of questions in the next life.