How is the situation of "divorce her quietly" in Matthew 1:19 according to Catholicism? Matthew 1:19


  Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not
  want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her
  quietly.


In these modern days, in my country, something about "secret/quiet" in a marriage - for example like this :


A. A couple already engaged. Because of something, the man ---after
considering--- finally decided to cancel the marriage. But in order
not to expose the woman to public disgrace, the man still do the
marriage ceremony, living together in a same house, but the "husband"
don't do sex at all with his "wife". It's just a staged marriage
so everyone else think that they are married couple as the normal
husband and wife.
B. A married couple. Because of something, the husband ---after
considering--- finally decided to divorce his wife. But in order not
to expose the wife to public disgrace, they still live together in
the same house, but the husband don't do sex anymore with his wife.
It's just a staged marriage so everyone else think that they are
still a married couple.


The "considering" from the man then indirectly is also about to have sex with the woman or not to have sex with the woman.

So, in general ... a "secret/quite divorce" in my country is also about there is no sex between the couple besides other things. But still to public, the couple is a husband and wife.

Since I don't know the custom in Israel let alone during Joseph &amp; Mary times, that's why I wonder what kind of a situation is a "secret/quite divorce" in those days ?
"Divorce" (in the sense of the Bills of Divorce that Moses permitted; cf. Mt. 5:31, 19:7 &amp; Deut. 24:1,3) in your translation of Mt. 1:19 is not the same thing as "put[ting] her away privately," as the Rheims translation puts it, which is really separation. Issuing a Bill of Divorce would be "publicly to expose her," which "Joseph her husband" was not "willing to" do. Also, St. Joseph did not consider issuing her a Bill of Divorce because he was "a just man."

Here's what the Catholic Haydock Commentary says on Mt. 1:19:


  Ver. 19. And Joseph her husband, knowing her strict virtue, was surprised at this her pregnancy, but "being a just man," and not willing to expose her, by denouncing her, or giving her a bill of divorce, he had a mind to dismiss her privately, committing the whole cause to God. Let us learn from Joseph to be ever tender of our neighbour's reputation, and never to entertain any injurious thoughts, or any suspicions to his prejudice. (Haydock)


In Canon Law, there's a distinction between a ratum et consummatum (ratified and consummated) marriage and a ratum sed non consummatum (ratified but not consummated marriage). Before the birth of Christ, Sts. Joseph's and Mary's marriage was not consummated, so if they were alive today, the Roman Pontiff could technically dissolve their marriage bond (Can. 1142). However, the angel convinced St. Joseph not to dismiss her, saying "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." (1:20).