I

DEVELOPMENT OF THE BELIEF ON

THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY OF MARY
1. It was prophesied that the mother of the Savior is a
virgin.
Isaiah 7:14- - “Therefore the Lord himself will give
you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and
bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”
2. Belief on the perpetual virginity of Mary was included in
the Apostles’ Creed under Article 3 which says:
“who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of
the Virgin Mary”
3. It was solemnly defined by the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
that “she remained a virgin for her whole life”.
4. It was again repeated in the Council of Lateran in 649 A.D.
The Greek word for Perpetual Virginity is
“Aieparthenos” which means that

MARY IS A VIRGIN
BEFORE,
DURING
AND AFTER
THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.
 BEFORE
THE
BIRTH OF
JESUS CHRIST
Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38)
“Rejoice, O highly favoured daughter! The Lord is
with you. Blessed are you among women.”

“Do not fear, Mary. You have found favour with

God. You shall conceive and bear a son and give
him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity and
he will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord
God will give him the throne of David his father.
He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and
his reign will be without end.”

“How can this be since I do not know

man?”
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of
the Most High will overshadow you, hence, the holy
offspring to be born will be called Son of God.”

“ I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as

you say.”
• The virginity of Mary before the birth of
Jesus Christ is stated at the Annunciation:
Gabriel was sent to “a virgin betrothed to a
man, whose name was Mary (Luke 1:26-35)
• Mary confirmed her virginal status when she
said: “How can this be, since I have no
relations with a man?” (Luke 1:34)
• Afterwards, an angel appeared in a dream to
St. Joseph and said: “Do not fear to take
Mary as your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”
(Matthew 1:20).
 DURING
THE
BIRTH OF
JESUS CHRIST
Catechism of the Catholic Church
OBJECTIONS ON
MARY’S VIRGINITY
AFTER
THE BIRTH OF
JESUS CHRIST
1. Jesus has brothers
and sisters.
How can Mary be a virgin
when she has many children?
 Biblical Basis of the Objection
  Mt. 13:55-56 – Is not this (Jesus) the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brethren
James, Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all
his sisters with us?”
  Mother’s name
Father is a JESUS
carpenter. CHRIST is Mary.
(St. Joseph) (Blessed Virgin
Mary)
Brothers’ name
were James, Have sisters but
Joseph, Simon & were not
Judas identified.
Catholic
Answers
 Catholic Answers
 First, the Bible does not say that these “brothers”
and “sisters” of Jesus were the children of Mary.
 Second, the word for “brother” (or “sister”),
“adelphos” (adelpha) in Greek, denotes a brother
or sister, or near kinsman (malapit na kamag-
anak). Aramaic and other Semitic languages could
not distinguish between a blood brother or sister
and a cousin. For example, John the Baptist, a
cousin of Jesus (the son of Elizabeth, cousin of
Mary) would be called “a brother (adelphos) of
Jesus”.
 Third, if Jesus Christ has biological brothers and sisters, why did he
entrust his mother, Mary, to St. John and not to his so-called “brothers and
sisters” before he died.
John 19:25-27 –
“Near the cross of Jesus, there
stood his mother, his mother’s
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene. Seeing
his mother there with the
disciple whom he loved, Jesus
said to his mother: “Woman,
there is your son.” In turn he
said to the disciple, “There Is
your mother.” From that hour
onward , the disciple took her
into his care.”
Fourth, studies and analyses
of many Bible scholars
disclosed that the “brothers
and sisters” of Jesus Christ
mentioned in Matthew 13:55-
56 were not his biological
brothers and sisters.
Bases of Bible Scholars Studies/Analyses
The Jewish people were
clannish.
Aramaic and Semitic
languages cannot
distinguish bet. Blood
brothers and sisters and
cousins.
The parents of the so-
called “brothers and
sisters” of Jesus Christ
were faithful followers of
the Lord and constant
companions of Jesus and
Mary.
 Mary Magdalene was not the Virgin Mary
because she was the woman from whom
7 demons were driven out. Furthermore,
the Virgin Mary was from Nazareth and
not from Magdala. Mary Magdalene
traveled with Jesus Christ in most of His
preachings and believed to have witnessed
Mary Magdalene Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
Mt 27:55-56 – “There were also many women there looking on from afar, who had
followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; among whom were Mary Magdalene, and
Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.”
  Mt 27:61 - “But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the
tomb.”
  Mt. 28:1 – ‘After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning , Mary Magdalene
came with the other Mary to inspect the tomb.”
  Mk 16:1 – “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James,
and Salome brought perfume oils with which they intended to go and anoint Jesus.”
  John 19:25 – “Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary
the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”
 
  Many Biblical scholars believed that the “Other Mary”
cannot be the Blessed Virgin Mary because the Gospel
writers knew her to be the Mother of Jesus Christ.
• It will be disrespectful on their part to just call her
“Other Mary” and to put the name of Mary Magdalene
ahead of her.
 Many Biblical scholars believed that the “Other Mary”
was Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, based on
the so-called faithful women followers of Jesus
Mary, Mother of James Christ and the “inner circle” led by the Blessed Virgin
and Joseph Mary.

  Mt 27:61 - “But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the
tomb.”
  Mt. 28:1 – ‘After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning , Mary Magdalene
came with the other Mary to inspect the tomb.”
  Mt 27:55-56 – “There were also many women there looking on from afar, who had
followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; among whom were Mary Magdalene, and
Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.”
Mk 16:1 – “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James,
and Salome brought perfume oils with which they intended to go and anoint Jesus.”
 
Mt 27:55-56 – “There were also many women there looking on from
afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; among
whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James
and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.”
 Bible scholars believed that the sons of Zebedee were
James and John, apostles of Jesus Christ.
 Bible scholars also believed that the unnamed mother of
James and John who asked Jesus that her sons will sit,
one at his left, and the other at his right, was Salome.
 Therefore, Salome was the wife of Zebedee.

ZEBEDEE 5. SALOME

JAMES JOHN

APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST

John 19:25 – “Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.”

 Biblical scholars believed that “his mother’s sister” and “Mary,

the wife of Clopas” are one and the same. It is just a
description of the other. They also believed that it is most
unlikely during that time that there will be sisters with the
same name (Mary) in one
family.
 So they strongly believed that Mary, the wife of Clopas,
was not a sister but just a cousin of the Virgin Mary. During
those times, the Jews were clannish and had no specific
names for cousins, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, etc.. They
called each other as “brothers and sisters” or “kinsmen”.
How about Simon and Judas who were also
mentioned as brothers of Jesus Christ? How about
His sisters who were not named? Biblical scholars
believed they were the sons and daughters of
Clopas and Mary.
4. MARY. COUSIN
CLOPAS OF MARY, MOTHER
OF JESUS

SONS & DAUGHTERS WERE

SECOND COUSINS OF JESUS
(SIMON, JUDAS AND UNNAMED
SISTERS)
 Women at the foot of the Cross
3. OTHER MARY,
2. MARY MOTHER OF:
MAGDALENE
FROM WHOM
7 DEMONS
WERE DRIVEN
OUT JOSEPH
JAMES THE
YOUNGER
1. MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS

4. MARY. ZEBEDEE 5. SALOME

CLOPAS
COUSIN OF
MARY,
MOTHER OF
JESUS
JAMES JOHN
SONS & DAUGHTERS WERE SECOND
COUSINS OF JESUS (SIMON, JUDAS APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST
AND UNNAMED SISTERS)
 OBJECTION NO. 2

Jesus, the first-born Son of

Mary. It means that there
were other children of Mary
who followed Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Mary is not a virgin
after the birth of Jesus Christ.
 Biblical Basis of the Objection
  Luke 2:7 – “Mary gave birth to her first-
born son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes.”
 
Catholic
Answers
   Among the Jews (according to the Bible), the
first-born child was always so-called and
remained so, because special obligations and
privileges were his birth-rights. (Dt. 21:15-
17) independently of whether the mother
might have given birth to other children.
Moreover, “first-born” literally means “a child not
preceded by another” and in itself, makes no
reference to the existence of other children. It is a
known fact that, in all languages and among all
people and races, the first child to be born is called
“first-born”, whether other children follow or not.
 OBJECTION NO. 3
WHAT ABOUT ST.
JOSEPH, THE FOSTER
FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST,
LEGAL HUSBAND OF
MARY AND HEAD OF THE
HOLY FAMILY?
WHAT ABOUT JOSEPH? Matthew 1:18-25
When his mother Mary was
engaged to Joseph but
before they lived together,
she was found with child
through the power of the
Holy Spirit. Joseph, her
husband, an upright man
unwilling to expose her to
the law decided to divorce
her quietly. Such was his
intention then suddenly the
angel of the Lord appeared
in a dream and said to
him….
 WHAT ABOUT JOSEPH? Matthew 1:18-25
“”Joseph, son of David, have no fear
about taking Mary as your wife. It
is by the Holy Spirit that she has
conceived this child. She is to have
a son and you are to name him
Jesus because he will save his
people from their sins. All this
happened to fulfill what the Lord
had said through the prophet: ‘The
virgin shall be with child and give
birth to a son, and they shall call
him Emmanuel.’, a name which
means “God is with us”.
When Joseph awoke he did as the angel of the Lord had directed
him and received her into his home as his wife. He had no relations
with her at any time before she bore a son he named Jesus.
 Questions and Answers on St. Joseph and
the Blessed Virgin Mary
1. Do the Bible verses “but before they lived together”
and “He had no relations with her at any time before
she bore a son he named Jesus” mean that Joseph
and Mary had marital relationship after the birth of
Jesus Christ?

Bible scholars believed that these verses do not

imply that Joseph and Mary had marital relations
after the birth of Jesus Christ. These were mere
descriptions of the particular situations and did not
imply what happened afterwards.
2. How can Joseph and Mary lived together as husband
and wife with Mary maintaining her virginity?
a) The Bible mentioned that Joseph was an “upright
man”. We should not judge him based on
worldly standard. To an upright man like Joseph,
he can maintain and respect the virginity of his
wife if it will mean love for and obedience to
God’s will and plan and love for his wife, Mary,
and Son, Jesus Christ.
b) As explained by the Angel, Joseph understood
God’s plan and the roles of Jesus and Mary in said
Plan. He too cooperated in said Plan.
3. Does the Catholic Church teaches that Joseph was a
virgin or was a widower with children who was quite
older than Mary?
Answer by Catholic Answers staff:
An early tradition has it that Joseph was a widower
who married the Virgin Mary later in life (after
already having a family with his first wife). A later
tradition says that Joseph was a virgin and that the
“brothers” of Jesus were other relatives, perhaps
cousins. Because we simply don’t know, Catholics
are free to believe either tradition. All that is
required of us to believe is that Mary remained a
perpetual virgin, including throughout her marriage
to Joseph.
Protoevangelium of James

Where did this belief that Joseph was a

widower and has children
 Other Information
The apocryphal Gospel of James, probably
written in 145 A.D., expanded backward the
Gospel accounts written by Matthew and
Luke. It contains the birth and upbringing of
Mary. It also mentioned that the “brethren
of Jesus” were the children of Joseph with his
first wife, implying that Joseph was a
widower.
Apocryphal means a story or statement of
doubtful authenticity although widely
circulated as being true.
 Other Information
The Protoevangelium of James is not in the
list of canonical books of the Catholic Church, hence,
not part of the Catholic edition of the Holy Bible.

Being apocryphal or non-canonical, it means

that the Protoevangelium of James has been
officially declared by the Catholic Church as not
inspired by the Holy Spirit when written.
IS IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE
THAT MARY HAS
MAINTAINED HER
VIRGINITY THROUGHOUT?
When the Angel Gabriel greeted Mary, “Hail, full of grace,
the Lord is with you” ), what does “full of grace” means? It
means that -

 The grace given by God to her is at once permanent and of

a unique kind; and

 Mary was graced in the past but with continuing effect to

the present.

IT MEANS MARY WAS TOTALLY

CONSECRATED TO GOD.
Relevance of
this Dogma
in our lives
 A 12-year old Italian farm
girl who chose to die resisting a
rapist. She sustained 14 stab
wounds in order to preserve
her virginity.

She was still alive when

found. As she received her last
Holy Communion, she forgave
her murderer. Numerous
miracles happened after her
Maria Goretti, a virgin and death, including the conversion
of her murderer.
martyr, is an excellent model
and intercessor for today’s She was canonized as a
youth, confronted by a sea of saint by Pope Pius XII on June
immorality poured out in the 24, 1950. Her feast day is July
world by the modern media. 6.
Reflection from “The Daily Gospel”, July 6, 2016 (Claretian
Publication)
“In many subtle (clever and indirect) ways, the mass
media are actively campaigning to convince teenagers
that esteem (respect and admiration) for virginity is a
medieval concept and that a girl should get rid of
her virginity as soon as possible. In fact, we often see
and hear on television, say, a 16-year old deplore
(express strong disapproval) the fact that she is still a
virgin – as though virginity were some kind of disease!
This loss of appreciation for virginity in so-called
“Christian” countries is all the more lamentable
(expressing sorrow or grief) when we compare the care
with which virginity is guarded among Muslim
populations.
Why is VIRGINITY important?
What makes our bodies impure?
 Regarding sexual immorality, this is
what St. Paul said:
Pre-marital
Sex Fornication
(Before (includes
marriage) Adultery)

Lust
Sex Orgy Pornography
 Our bodies are holy and
deserve our deepest respect.
 But in order to protect this
treasure, we must be willing
to adopt a certain lifestyle
involving prayer and self-
discipline.
 OUR RESPONSE. ALTOGETHER LET US SAY:

LET US ALL BE GOOD EXAMPLES TO

OTHERS ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH BY
LIVING AND LEADING A HOLY LIFE.

LET US NOT MAKE OUR BODIES

IMPURE. AMEN.
 MAY GOD
BE PRAISED!