Mary’s perpetual virginity, Mary: Day 039

Last updated on: August 29, 2015 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Mary’s perpetual virginity, Mary: Day 039 2015-08-22T06:22:52-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mary’s perpetual virginity

In the fourth century, one Scripture interpreter cited a passage in the Gospel of Matthew to claim that Mary gave birth to other children after Jesus. In response, the great Bible scholar St. Jerome showed how the passage doesn’t contradict the Church’s ancient tradition that Jesus was Mary’s only Child.

Joseph had no relations with Mary, the Gospel says, “until she had borne a son” (Mt 1:25). In this passage, some people insist, until implies a fixed and defi- nite time after which the event that previously didn’t take place, now takes place. So this text, they say, means that she had sexual relations after she delivered her Son. Such relations were only delayed, not prevented, by her bearing a Child.

Our reply is briefly this. The word until in the language of Holy Scripture can have either of two meanings. The Scripture often uses this word to mean a fixed time, as we noted. But frequently the term refers instead to time without limitation, as when the Savior in the Gospel tells the Apostles, “Lo, I am with you always, until the close of the age” (Mt 28:20).

Does this mean, then, that the Lord, after the end of the world has come, will forsake His disciples, so that at the very time when they’re seated on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel, they’ll be abandoned by their Lord? (See Mt 19:28.) Of course not! And I could pile up countless examples of this usage in the Scripture.

In the same sense, then, that we interpret the word until in this and other passages, we must interpret what we’re told about St. Joseph. St. Matthew simply pointed out a circumstance that might have given rise to some scandal, namely, that Mary didn’t have relations with her husband until she delivered her Son. The Evangelist did this so that we might be all the more certain that she—the one with whom Joseph refrained from having relations while there was yet room to doubt the meaning of his dream—did not have relations after her delivery, either.
—St. Jerome, Against Helvidius

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
In ancient times as now, Catholic teaching is sometimes challenged by those who claim that it contradicts Scripture. Have I made good use of Catholic resources for defending my faith so that I’ll be prepared when someone challenges the Church’s teaching?

CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, the Scripture is your gift to the Church to help us know and follow you. Help me to read the Scripture with the mind of the Church so that I can understand more accurately what it teaches.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Paul Thigpen and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.

Previous Post

August 28, 2015

Mary’s special gifts help her witness to Christ, Mary: Day 038

Next Post

August 30, 2015 The mother was like the Son, Mary: Day 040

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz