U
UsedtoProtest
Guest
I used to be a Protestant and an Anglican church, too! 
I finally became Catholic in 2010, and I’ll admit that the Marian doctrines seemed really strange to me when I was a Protestant. I had the same questions about the perpetual virginity, it just doesn’t seem necessary at first glance.
If you have a Catechism of the Catholic Church, the teachings on the virginity of Mary are in paragraphs 496-507. Lumen Gentium 57 might also be helpful. Both can be found on the web if you don’t.
I think what was helpful for me in understanding all of the Marian dogmas (perpetual virginity, immaculate conception - boy that was the toughest for me I think, the assumption, etc) is thinking of it in terms not of being necessary, but more of being fitting. Sex is certainly not a bad thing within marriage, so it wouldn’t have been “sinful” for her to have sex within her marriage. Traditionally understood, Mary made a vow of virginity even before she was married to Joseph (which is why she asked the angel during the annunciation how it would be possible for her to get pregnant). St. Augustine wrote about Mary’s perpetual virginity, and we see that even in the early church they believed it. But more than that, it’s fitting that the woman who gave birth to God, who carried the incarnation within her own body, should be a virgin.
As for celibacy vs. virginity, see the Catechism paragraph 2349. It quotes from St. Ambrose: “There are three forms of the virtue of chastity: the first is that of spouses, the second is that of widows, and the third is that of virgins. We do not praise any one of them to the exclusion of the others … This is what makes for the richness of the discipline of the Church.”
But the Church does recognize that some people are called to a consecrated celibacy, like in Mary’s case, or in the case of priests or other religious. It frees them up in a way to give themselves wholeheartedly to God alone. But of course we know that sex within a marriage is healthy and also images the trinity, so it’s not a case of better or worse, just different states of life.
Also see Rev 14:3-4: “They were singing (what seemed to be) a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb.”
Anyway, hope that’s helpful! Good luck to you! It is such an exciting journey, I’ll be praying for you!
I finally became Catholic in 2010, and I’ll admit that the Marian doctrines seemed really strange to me when I was a Protestant. I had the same questions about the perpetual virginity, it just doesn’t seem necessary at first glance.If you have a Catechism of the Catholic Church, the teachings on the virginity of Mary are in paragraphs 496-507. Lumen Gentium 57 might also be helpful. Both can be found on the web if you don’t.
I think what was helpful for me in understanding all of the Marian dogmas (perpetual virginity, immaculate conception - boy that was the toughest for me I think, the assumption, etc) is thinking of it in terms not of being necessary, but more of being fitting. Sex is certainly not a bad thing within marriage, so it wouldn’t have been “sinful” for her to have sex within her marriage. Traditionally understood, Mary made a vow of virginity even before she was married to Joseph (which is why she asked the angel during the annunciation how it would be possible for her to get pregnant). St. Augustine wrote about Mary’s perpetual virginity, and we see that even in the early church they believed it. But more than that, it’s fitting that the woman who gave birth to God, who carried the incarnation within her own body, should be a virgin.
As for celibacy vs. virginity, see the Catechism paragraph 2349. It quotes from St. Ambrose: “There are three forms of the virtue of chastity: the first is that of spouses, the second is that of widows, and the third is that of virgins. We do not praise any one of them to the exclusion of the others … This is what makes for the richness of the discipline of the Church.”
But the Church does recognize that some people are called to a consecrated celibacy, like in Mary’s case, or in the case of priests or other religious. It frees them up in a way to give themselves wholeheartedly to God alone. But of course we know that sex within a marriage is healthy and also images the trinity, so it’s not a case of better or worse, just different states of life.
Also see Rev 14:3-4: “They were singing (what seemed to be) a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb.”
Anyway, hope that’s helpful! Good luck to you! It is such an exciting journey, I’ll be praying for you!
Why am I not still a virgin, why am I considered de-filed? Because I had Sex!! Got it!