Did Jesus have Brothers?

[thistle]

Ortho:

Sure. I could find an answer. One way to find an answer is to ask Catholics. But, as you did, they obfiscate and avoid the question. Why?

Was Joseph Mary’s husband?

I guess you must be an atheist and as such you have no real interest in what is being said by all of us. Atheists have no faith so it does not matter what we say you will remain the same. You simply come to these threads to bait people not to find answers.

 

[Ortho]

TamaraS:

There IS NO big secret! I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. We are always trying to explain what and why we believe. Anything that you want to know about what we believe and why is explained over and over again. You can ask anything you want to know here and people are more than happy to explain. You could also go to any good Catholic book store to pick up some great books.

That is a pretty cheap shot. You shouldn’t comment about what goes on in the average married couple’s bedroom. Also, Catholics believe that Mary had a unique role. There is nothing average or ordinary about bearing God the Son in your womb, not to mention giving birth to him and raising him. That is VERY holy.

OK. I will ask. Why is it important that Mary was always a virgin? How would things be different if she was not a virgin all her life? How would things be any different if she had three other kids? Is her sex life anybody’s business?

I didn’t comment on what goes on in anybody’s bedroom. You folks are the ones investigating and commenting on the woman’s sex life. I don’t think it’s anybody’s business. My question is simple. Is virginity seen by Catholics as being better than an active married sex life?

If Catholics see virginity as superior to an active married sex life, then that may explain why they see Mary’s perpetual virginity as being very important.

 

[Ortho]

tdandh26:

Catholic understanding of the bible is not limited to the new testament alone. Along with sacred Tradition, the archatypes of the new testament are prefigured in the old. Like the manna in the desert is the prefigurement of the Eucharist. The Arc of the Covenant, which carried the word of God, was incapable of being touched by human hands lest that person die. The Arc is the prefigurment of Mary, who carried the Word made flesh.

The old testament refutes a lot of protestant theories, while it supports Catholic understanding. Jesus said “I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it”. Meaning He perfected what He(God) had begun under the old Jewish religion. The Church in its entirerty is the fulfillment of that law, for Jesus also said " not the smallest letter of the law shall pass away."

It is important to Catholics that Mary was always a virgin because nobody could touch the Ark? That’s it?

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Ortho:

OK. I will ask. Why is it important that Mary was always a virgin? How would things be different if she was not a virgin all her life? How would things be any different if she had three other kids? Is her sex life anybody’s business?

I didn’t comment on what goes on in anybody’s bedroom. You folks are the ones investigating and commenting on the woman’s sex life. I don’t think it’s anybody’s business. My question is simple. Is virginity seen by Catholics as being better than an active married sex life?

If Catholics see virginity as superior to an active married sex life, then that may explain why they see Mary’s perpetual virginity as being very important.

Yes. Consecrated virginity is superior to the married life. Bearing in mind it does not mean married=bad and celebacy=good. Rather it is married life=good, celebacy=better.

 

[Ortho]

TamaraS:

That’s because we look at Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture equally. One is not greater than the other. They work harmoniously together and do not contradict each other.
Also, I’m not trying to sound mean or anything, but why do other Christians even care why it’s so important to Catholics?

Interesting anthropology. Also, some Catholics want their beliefs imposed on the rest of society. Given the Catholic teaching on marriage and birth control, it’s reasonable to ask about the extreme import attached to someone never having sex.

 

[Ortho]

tdandh26:

I really really hate these debates about Mary, and here is why.

In the beginning God said “I will put enmity between you and the woman.” Enmity is a word which implies exteme hatred, total opposites. Why then, if Satan is the one to hate Mary so much, is she attacked so violently by people? Why attack her virginity, as if she being the mother of God wasn’t enough for her? The word brother is a word throughout scripture which is used to describe any relative. God is the author of all and Im sure He would want “The Woman” to be even more spotless than anything else in all scripture.

Attacking her virginity? Is virginity something special? Better than not being a virgin?

 

[TamaraS]

Scott Waddell:

Yes. Consecrated virginity is superior to the married life. Bearing in mind it does not mean married=bad and celebacy=good. Rather it is married life=good, celebacy=better.

Thank you for summing that up in such a simple way.
-Tamara

 

[Ortho]

thistle:

I guess you must be an atheist and as such you have no real interest in what is being said by all of us. Atheists have no faith so it does not matter what we say you will remain the same. You simply come to these threads to bait people not to find answers.

More avoidance and obfiscation.

Why is it so important to catholics that Mary was always a virgin?

Is being a virgin better than having an active married sex life?

What’s so hard? Why the big secret?

 

[Ortho]

Scott Waddell:

Yes. Consecrated virginity is superior to the married life. Bearing in mind it does not mean married=bad and celebacy=good. Rather it is married life=good, celebacy=better.

Thanks for the straight answer. Why is celebacy better?

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Ortho:

More avoidance and obfiscation.

Why is it so important to catholics that Mary was always a virgin?

Is being a virgin better than having an active married sex life?

What’s so hard? Why the big secret?

I didn’t avoid. I answered directly that it is superior. As to why it is important. Well, because it is true.

Scott

 

[Ortho]

Scott Waddell:

I didn’t avoid. I answered directly that it is superior. As to why it is important. Well, because it is true.

Scott

Correct. You did not avoid. You gave a straight answer. I have been commenting on the posts in sequence, so there are times when higher numbered posts exist (and I have not read them) while I am still stuck on a lower numbered post.

To repeat. You did not avoid. You gave a direct answer.

OK. Why do you say it is true?

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Ortho:

Thanks for the straight answer. Why is celebacy better?

Because the consecrated celebate is taking God as spouse. It is a sacrifice. Giving up the right so to speak to an earthly spouse.

Scott

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Ortho:

Correct. You did not avoid. You gave a straight answer. I have been commenting on the posts in sequence, so there are times when higher numbered posts exist (and I have not read them) while I am still stuck on a lower numbered post.

To repeat. You did not avoid. You gave a direct answer.

OK. Why do you say it is true?

I see that. You commented before I deleted it.

 

[Ortho]

Scott Waddell:

Because the consecrated celebate is taking God as spouse. It is a sacrifice. Giving up the right so to speak to an earthly spouse.

Scott

OK. Is that documented Church teaching?

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Ortho:

OK. Is that documented Church teaching?

Yes. From Pope Pius XII’s Encylical on Sacred Virginity:

The doctrine of the excellence of virginity and of celibacy, and of their superiority over the married state, was…revealed by our Divine Redeemer…; so too, it was solemnly defined as a dogma of divine faith by the holy Council of Trent

Full document here: ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P12SACRA.HTM

 

[Ortho]

Scott Waddell:

Yes. From Pope Pius XII’s Encylical on Sacred Virginity:

Full document here: ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P12SACRA.HTM

OK. Thanks for the info. If Catholics have a value system and teaching that says celebacy is a superior life style, then it would logically follow that they would want their revered historical figures to be in that superior state. It would also lend credibility by example to the desirability of such a state.

 

[MonicaC]

Ortho:

OK. I will ask. Why is it important that Mary was always a virgin? How would things be different if she was not a virgin all her life? How would things be any different if she had three other kids? Is her sex life anybody’s business?

Well I really believe that no one has side step this anser you just refuse to listion. So I willnot commetn on this any further.

I didn’t comment on what goes on in anybody’s bedroom. You folks are the ones investigating and commenting on the woman’s sex life. I don’t think it’s anybody’s business. My question is simple. Is virginity seen by Catholics as being better than an active married sex life?

That WOMEN you so disrespectfully talkabout is the mother of Our Lord, as well as mine, so please have some more respect. And to answer your question virginity is seen by Catholices not as better than an active married life. But that is only to say that the couple stays faithful only to his or spouse. Our Lady as I said before is espoused by the Holy Spirit alone.

If Catholics see virginity as superior to an active married sex life, then that may explain why they see Mary’s perpetual virginity as being very important.

Already explained.

 

[Malachi4U]

Ortho:

… Is virginity something special? Better than not being a virgin?

You’ll need to ask God these questions. You see, HE is the one that choose a virgin! I guess that answers your questions, unless Gods Word isn’t good enough?

 

[Ortho]

Malachi4U:

You’ll need to ask God these questions. You see, HE is the one that choose a virgin! I guess that answers your questions, unless Gods Word isn’t good enough?

I didn’t have to ask God. I asked Scott Wadell, and he gave a very direct and concise answer.

I suspect many people here learned from his answer and reference to Trent…

 

[Skripper]

Malachi4U:

You’ll need to ask God these questions. You see, HE is the one that choose a virgin! I guess that answers your questions, unless Gods Word isn’t good enough?