By Paul Dion, STL
It is rather rare that we get to make contact with the same topic three of four times in the same two week span. Usually, something comes along and we answer it, get it off our minds and don't remember it before publishing time.
Lately though, three times over the last two weeks the question of the perpetual virginity of the Mother of Jesus has been discussed. For that reason, we have decided to place it before you, Dear Readers, because we consider the question to be of high importance.
The question surfaces during conversations when we talk about the gospel story where we here the disciples tell Jesus, - "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." (Matthew 12:46-47) Jesus answers, "My mother and my brothers are those who do the will of my Father."
When St. Paul wrotes to the Galatians, he says at one point, - "But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lords brother." (Gal. 1:19)
There are many other passages that mention Jesus' brothers.
The one passage that called forth the most dynamic discussion was this one, - "And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." ("Matthew 1:24-25)
The burning question then is this: Was the Blessed Virgin Mary a Virgin Forever?
Poat a comment below and let us know what you think.
Or click here to view the answer to the Burning Question.
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Dear Readers:
ReplyDeleteIt is the policy of ParioshWorld.net to not post links in he comment section.
Paul Dion, STL
Theology Editor
Of course. dogma cannot be rejected by us mere laymen.
ReplyDeleteDid Mary remain a virgin? The answer is a very good one in ( THE NEW CATHOLIC ANSWER BIBLE ) I cannot copy what it says but if anyone goes to answer page Q-1 the explanation is very good. I will pray that every Catholic or Protestant own this particular Bible, especially if they really want to know our faith better. Once again I am Manny. I love the question. Did Mary remain a virgin?
ReplyDeleteWE do believe that the Blessed Mother remained ever Virgin...and we are given testimony by this written in MYSTICAL CITY OF GOD dictated to Mary of Agreda in Book II entitled INCARNATION in the Four Volumes, dictated by the Blessed Mother herself to Mary of
ReplyDeleteAgreda, in a convent in Spain in the 1500's. Check it out on the internet, or buy the four volumes. It has the Imprimatur and is a wonderful study for a group or individual interested in the life, role and titles of the BLessed Mother as well as conversations she had with God the Father, Jesus, Elizabeth, St. Joseph, the Apostles and Evangelists...we have done several programs on the radio on this and they are archived or soon will be for your listening and study as you read along with us. www.radiomaria.us/francescaandfriends
If it were a matter of my opinion, I would say she had a regular married life after the birth of Christ, demonstrating and lifting up the sanctity of marriage and giving it special value in God's plan. However, as a Catholic I need to defer to Church teaching on the subject found in the catechism #449 and #500. But not without some healthy intelligent questioning.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good question. I am a Catholic, born & trained as a catholic. An active member of d Catholic Youth Org. My answer is No. She was a virgin before giving birth 2 Jesus, after that she had other children as we can find in Matt 12: 46-47, Gal 1:19 and in other verses of d bible. What we should know is that the bible is meant for teaching, instruction & correction. It is the book all Christians should read & follow. All what is in the Bible is true & we ought to follow what is there but not our own teaching.
ReplyDeleteBridget:
ReplyDeleteDespite your stated credentials, your position on the virginity of our Blessed Mother Mary is not the doctrinal position of the Catholic Church. We pray to Mary "ever virgin" and the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "In fact Christ's birth did not diminish his mother's virginal integrity but sanctified it." (Numbers 499 to 501)You and everyone else can read the church's doctrinal position on this matter. Please be careful that what you teach is in fact Catholic Doctrine.
I have read some of the reasons for the position on the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Mother. The one that states the same word for brother is the one for cousin. That Scripture says "and took her as his wife, and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son" means exactly that. They had no relations before Jesus was born. It doesn't mean they did after He was born. If Mary had other children why did John look after her after Jesus died? But the thing that really did it for me was while I was watching the Nativity Story movie. After Jesus was born, Joseph looks at Mary with a look of pure wonder and awe and I thought to myself could this righteous man ever even want to have sex with the woman who just gave birth to the Son of God? Could Joseph even look at Mary as just a woman? In our society where sex is everywhere and used to sell everything we might find it strange for a man not to want to have sex with his wife. But true love and devotion sacrifices much.
ReplyDeleteHere a good article that offers biblical proof that Mary (and Joseph) made a vow of virginity. http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/12/biblical-proof-that-mary-and-joseph.html
ReplyDeleteI disagree that this is a "burning question". We're clearly told that She was a virgin until the birth of Christ, but after that, I don't think it's of huge importance. Technically I guess you can't be a virgin once you've given birth the natural way.
ReplyDeleteSo why is it so important to people? It's not to me.
Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point about the post-partum loss of virginity. That is not the biggest and most important part of the doctrine, though. The question addresses the abstinence from conjugal sexual activity. The virtue that Mary presents to God's work through the celibacy that she practices her entire life is heroic behavior. We believe that this heroic behavior was a direct effect of her being conceived without original sin. It is a special blessing that she was given from the moment of her conception and that she shares with the entire community of Christ's disciples all her life. It is through this heroism that she had the courage to stand at the foot of the cross while her Son writhed and died there. Mary's body therefore remained the eternal "Ark of the Covenant" that not only carried, nurtured and delivered the Son of God, and only Him, none other, but shared His entire life, the easy part and the Passion and Death part, until she herself was taken to live with Him in Heaven. We cannot understand the depth of Christ's Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection unless we accept the high degree of importance of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary.
We can agree that this is not a "Burning Question" and we can also agree, we hope, that it is an important one.