Rachel Evans
The perpetual virginity of Mary is a Christian doctrine that asserts Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ. This belief has been held by Catholics since the earliest days of Christianity and is considered a Marian dogma, or non-negotiable truth, of the Catholic Church. The doctrine is based on interpretations of biblical passages and extra-biblical evidence, such as the Protoevangelium of James, which suggest that Mary took vows of perpetual virginity. However, this belief has been contested by some who argue that the Bible clearly states that Jesus had siblings, indicating that Mary did not remain a virgin. The debate surrounding Mary's perpetual virginity highlights the different interpretations and beliefs within Christianity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic belief | Mary was always a virgin |
| Basis | Mary was a virgin "before, during and after" the birth of Christ |
| Support | Early Church Fathers like Athanasius, Jerome, Augustine, and Ambrose |
| Objection | Bible mentions Jesus had brothers, so Mary couldn't be a perpetual virgin |
| Catholic response | Jesus' "brothers" could be step-brothers or kin, not biological |
| Other objections | Mary's betrothal to Joseph contradicts virginity; ambiguous scriptural support |
| Catholic counter | Joseph respected Mary's vow; celibacy within marriage was possible |
| Significance | Mary, as the Mother of God, is exalted and revered |
| Denominations | Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Orthodox, and some Protestants |
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What You'll Learn
Mary's perpetual virginity is a historical fact
The perpetual virginity of Mary is a historical fact. This is a Christian doctrine that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin "before, during and after" the birth of Christ. The Catholic Church adheres to this doctrine, as do some Lutherans, Anglicans, Reformed, and other Protestants. The belief that Mary was always a virgin has been held since the earliest days of Christianity. Many early Church Fathers, including Athanasius, Jerome, and Augustine, expressed this belief. Augustine said in AD 411 that Mary was "a Virgin conceiving, a Virgin bearing, a Virgin pregnant, a Virgin bringing forth, a Virgin perpetual".
The Protoevangelium of James, a non-canonical but pious book from the second century, supports the idea that Mary was planning on remaining a virgin. According to this text, Mary was engaged to Joseph due to concerns about ceremonial cleanliness, which required that she have a male protector who would respect her vow of virginity. Joseph was chosen "by lot to take into [his] keeping the Virgin of the Lord". His duty to guard Mary was so serious that when she conceived, Joseph had to answer to the temple authorities.
The Second Council of Constantinople in 553 recognised Mary as Aeiparthenos, meaning "Ever-Virgin", and the Catholic Church has made the Perpetual Virginity one of the four Marian dogmas, meaning that it is held to be a truth divinely revealed, and the denial of which is heresy. The Church Fathers were unanimous in their testimony, and the Church affirms the dogma because it corresponds to historical reality.
Some have objected that the Bible clearly states that Jesus had siblings, which would mean that Mary could not have remained a virgin. However, there are interpretations of the texts that show that Jesus did not have brothers. For example, if Jesus had brothers, why would he have entrusted Mary to the beloved disciple, John, at the foot of the cross (John 19:26-27)? He would have had siblings who could have taken care of her. Additionally, the New Testament references to the brothers and sisters of Jesus can be understood as signifying his kin, rather than the biological children of his mother.
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The Protoevangelium of James suggests Mary vowed perpetual virginity
The Protoevangelium of James is a late 2nd-century text that is one of the earliest written traditions of the perpetual virginity of Mary. The text is not heretical and reflects the common faith in the virginal conception and birth of Christ. It is believed that Joseph was chosen by lot to protect Mary, who was a virgin. Joseph was an elderly widower with children from a previous marriage, and his duty to guard Mary was taken seriously.
The Protoevangelium of James also mentions the midwife who examined Mary after the birth and found her to be a virgin. This incident was used by Clement of Alexandria to uphold the perpetual virginity of Mary. The text further describes the birth of Christ as extraordinary, with a luminous cloud covering the cave where Mary was, and a great light appearing when the cloud withdrew.
The idea of Mary's perpetual virginity is supported by several early Church Fathers, including Athanasius, Jerome, and Augustine. Augustine, in particular, expressed this belief as early as AD 411. However, it is important to note that this belief has been challenged by some, including Protestants, who argue that the Bible mentions Jesus having siblings, which would contradict Mary's perpetual virginity.
Despite these challenges, the Catholic Church adheres to the doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity, declaring her virginity before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. The Second Council of Constantinople in 553 gave Mary the title "Aeiparthenos," meaning Perpetual Virgin, and the Catholic Church has made this belief one of its four Marian dogmas.
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Jesus' brothers were step-brothers
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin "before, during and after" the birth of Christ. This belief has been held since the earliest days of Christianity and is considered a truth divinely revealed, the denial of which is heresy.
However, the Bible does mention Jesus having brothers, including James, Joseph, Simon, Judas, and sisters. These siblings are not mentioned until after Jesus began his ministry and are first referred to as accompanying their mother and Jesus to Capernaum. The interpretation of these passages varies among Christian denominations.
One viewpoint, notably upheld in Catholic tradition, argues that these individuals were cousins or close relatives of Jesus rather than siblings. This view holds that Joseph was much older than Mary and had children from a previous marriage, making them Jesus's step-brothers. This is supported by the fact that Joseph disappears from accounts after Jesus remains at the temple, while Mary lived decades afterward. Additionally, if Joseph had died, Jesus would not have entrusted Mary to John's care at the foot of the cross.
Other interpretations include the Epiphanian view, which states that the "brothers" and "sisters" mentioned in the New Testament are children of Joseph from a previous marriage, and the Hieronymian view, which argues that both Mary and Joseph were lifelong virgins. The modern scholar Robert Eisenman believes that Luke sought to minimize the importance of Jesus's family, editing James and Jesus's brothers out of the Gospel record.
The belief in Mary's perpetual virginity is supported by early Church Fathers such as Athanasius, Jerome, and Augustine, who stated that Mary was "a Virgin conceiving, a Virgin bearing, a Virgin pregnant, a Virgin bringing forth, a Virgin perpetual." However, some argue that this belief is based on complicated reasoning and ambiguous biblical passages, and that there is scriptural evidence indicating that Jesus had siblings.
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Mary's virginity is one of four Marian dogmas
The perpetual virginity of Mary is one of four Marian dogmas, or beliefs, held by the Catholic Church. The other three are Mary's motherhood of God, her Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.
The belief that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ has been held since the earliest days of Christianity. The Second Council of Constantinople in 553 gave Mary the title "Aeiparthenos", meaning "Perpetual Virgin", and at the Lateran Council of 649, Pope Martin I emphasised the threefold character of the perpetual virginity, stating that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after Christ's birth.
The belief in Mary's perpetual virginity is based on scriptural interpretations and theological reasoning. Some Catholics argue that Mary's betrothal to Joseph, as mentioned in Luke 1:27, does not contradict her vow of virginity. They suggest that Joseph was chosen to protect Mary and respect her vow, and that his duty was taken so seriously that he had to answer to temple authorities when Mary conceived.
However, there are objections to this interpretation of scripture. Some argue that the Bible clearly states that Jesus had siblings, which would contradict the belief in Mary's perpetual virginity. For example, Matthew 13:55 refers to "James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas" as Jesus' brothers.
Despite these objections, the Catholic Church maintains the dogma of Mary's perpetual virginity, declaring it a truth divinely revealed and considering its denial as heresy.
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Mary's virginity is key to her queenship
The perpetual virginity of Mary is a Christian doctrine that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin "before, during and after" the birth of Christ. This belief has been held since the earliest days of Christianity, with many early Church Fathers, including Athanasius, Jerome, and Augustine, expressing this belief. Augustine, for example, said in AD 411 that Mary was "a Virgin conceiving, a Virgin bearing, a Virgin pregnant, a Virgin bringing forth, a Virgin perpetual."
The Catholic Church, in particular, adheres to this doctrine, and it is one of the four Marian dogmas, meaning that it is considered a truth divinely revealed, and the denial of which is considered heresy. The Church Fathers unanimously testified to Mary's virginity, and she was given the title "Aeiparthenos", meaning "Ever-Virgin", by the Second Council of Constantinople in 553.
The belief in Mary's perpetual virginity is significant because it is seen as a sign of her purity and holiness. God's holy things are to remain undefiled, and Mary, as his holiest creation, is exalted above all other creatures, even the angels. Her virginity is also seen as a sign of her queenship, with the title "Mother of God" being bestowed upon her due to the close union between her son Jesus Christ's human nature and the Divine Person of the Son. This union means that Jesus' human actions and states are attributed to the Divine Person, further elevating Mary's status.
While some argue that the Bible indicates that Jesus had siblings, which would contradict Mary's perpetual virginity, there are various interpretations and explanations for these passages. Some Catholics argue that the references to Jesus' brothers and sisters in the Bible signify his kin, rather than biological siblings. Others suggest that Joseph, Mary's husband, was much older and had children from a previous marriage, making them step-siblings. Additionally, the fact that Jesus entrusted Mary to the disciple John, rather than his brothers, at the foot of the cross, is seen as evidence that Jesus did not have biological brothers who could care for her.
In conclusion, the belief in Mary's perpetual virginity is a key aspect of Catholic doctrine and is closely tied to her exalted status as the Mother of God and her queenship. While there are differing interpretations of biblical passages, the Catholic Church upholds the belief in Mary's virginity before, during, and after the birth of Christ as a fundamental truth.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholics believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin "before, during and after" the birth of Christ.
This belief is called the perpetual virginity of Mary.
Yes, the belief is also held by some Lutherans, Anglicans, Reformed, and other Protestants. The Orthodox Church also adheres to this doctrine.
The basis for this belief is found in the Protoevangelium of James, a non-canonical text from the second century, as well as the writings of early Church Fathers such as Augustine, Jerome, and Athanasius. The Catholic Church considers it a truth divinely revealed and denies it is considered heresy.
Some people object to this belief by citing biblical passages that suggest Jesus had siblings, which would imply that Mary did not remain a virgin. However, Catholics interpret these passages differently, arguing that the brothers" of Jesus were actually his cousins or kin.
