Help me explain Mary, ever Virgin?

[kbflawyer1]

I have recently had discussions with a non-Catholic friend about the Church’s view of Mary’s virginity throughout her lifetime. I was able to discuss and explain the Scripture references to Jesus’ brothers, but have no explanation for Matthew 1: 24-25: “And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a son. . .” This passage seems to indicate that Joseph kept her a virgin “until” she gave birth to Jesus. How do I explain this passage to my non-Catholic friend in defense of the Catholic Church’s teaching on Mary as the ever virgin Mother of God?

 

[Devon_Caffran]

The following links should assist you in better understanding Mary’s perpetual virginity. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.
**Recommended Reading:
**

• Doesn’t Scripture imply that Mary had children other than Jesus?
• ** Did Jesus have brothers?**
• ** Perpetual Virginity: Why is this important?**
• ** Mary: Ever Virgin**
• ** Why should any doctrine not explicitly referred to in the Bible, be listened to?**
• ** How do you respond to “Everything you need to know is in the Bible”?**
• ** How can we know a doctrine is true if it’s not in the Bible?**
• ** How do we know that the Protoevangelium of James is credible?**
• ** Does Church Tradition exist only to interpret Scripture?**
• ** Non-Canonical Writings…**
• ** Oral Traditions not found in the Bible**
• Immaculate Conception and Assumption