R
Reuben_J
Guest
That’s right - the word is betrothed - a promise to be married. They were not married but only betrothed. Conventional wisdom among Christians is that she would be about 14 years or older at that time. The usage of the word ‘almah’ in Hebrew which combines the meanings of (1) young girl of marriageable age and (2) virgin, means that she could not be younger than 14 as she would not be of marrriageable age then. Marriageable age means to start a family, be a wife and a mother. It’s not only about being able to have sex.Mary’s age at the time of the immaculate conception was…nothing. The “Immaculate Conception” refers to the conception of Mary herself in the womb of St. Anne; immaculate because she alone was conceived without the stain of original sin.
You’re confusing it with the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ (common misconception, just felt the need to correct it when I saw it)
**I think most of us assume Mary was probably between 12 to 15 when she was betrothed to St. Joseph. ** I’m certain that the ancient Jews didn’t marry off their girls before they had reached the age of puberty like the modern Muslims do today. By the way, MuslimWoman, your point is irrelevant because St. Joseph and the Blessed VIRGIN Mary never had a sexual relationship. Joseph is called “most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary”…Joseph is a much better role model than Mohammad, who couldn’t keep his grubby fingers off of a NINE year old.