Such a great subject…such a mysterious one…such a delicate one !
The commonly accepted medical definition mentioned by puzzleannie is one aspect.
Additionally, in those earlier times,a virgin was commonly considered/defined as one who had not “known” men; hence Luke 1:34 ,
" Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I have
no knowledge of man?’ "
This link to Catholic Encyclopedia provides a clear and concise description of the perpetual virginity of Mary, with many references and I find it to be exceptionally well worded:
newadvent.org/cathen/15448a.htm
These types of articles are very useful because it isn’t unexpected that some might encounter problems trying to visualize what we profess in this case.
One of the most beautifully worded descriptions of the virgin birth of Christ (preserving Our Lady’s perpetual virginity) I’ve read to date, comes from the Marian Movement of Priests Book - “To The Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons”. I’ve posted an excerpt below.
*Please bear in mind that
this book, *despite the fact that it enjoys the Imprimatur of three Cardinals, **is private revelation ***.
Just the same, I believe the passage posted below is a powerful tool for the imagination of anyone wishing to try and visualize the virgin birth of Christ:
TO THE PRIESTS, OUR LADY’S BELOVED SONS, # 395, In the Night of Your Time, pgs 582,583, c-g] :
"My *soul *was immersed in an ocean of peace and of blessedness. The presence of the Word who, for nine months had been pulsating in his human body which formed in my virginal womb, had filled my soul with the light and happiness of all paradise. There the Most Holy Trinity had made its habitual dwelling; the choirs of angels were prostrating themselves in perpetual adoration and interweaving sweetest harmonies of heavenly songs. The very light of God was transfiguring my soul, which became a most pure reflection of his divine beauty. Thus I was preparing a precious and holy crib in which to place the Light which was about to rise in the midst of an immense darkness.
My
Heart was opening itself to an experience of a love so great such as has not been granted to any other creature. What sentiments of innefable love my Heart was experiencing in feeling that the awaited moment of the birth of my divine Child had now come ! My motherly love was made even more perfect by my virginal state and the conciousness that the Child who was about to be born of me was the Son of God.
Thus, in the moment which preceded his birth, my Heart was filled to overflowing with the love of all those who had awaited Him for centuries. The love of Adam, of Abraham, of Moses, of all the prophets and the just ones of Israel, of the little ones and of the poor of Yahweh was becoming present in my virginal Heart, which was opening itself to love the Child, who was about to be born, with the heartbeat of all humanity redeemed and saved by Him.
My *body *was enwrapped in a light which was becoming stronger and stronger and more intense, the more I entered into an ecstasy of prayer and of profound union with the Heavenly Father.
On this night, paradise was completely contained within a poor and cold cave. As a ray of light passes through a crystal without even grazing it, so too the divine Child passed through the veil of my virginal womb without grazing the charm of my perfect virginity. In this wonderful manner there took place the birth of my Son. The greatest of all prodigies is accomplished in the fullness of time…"
Then of course, there is the one sentence definition I heard from a friend who is a Scalabrinian priest: “Our Blessed Lord emerged from his Mother’s womb the same way He entered.”
