Mother mary's perpetual virginity

[PRmerger]

It was something posted on CAF. I’ve had a look for the post but couldn’t find it.

It would be helpful if you could find that post, or another Catholic source (preferably from the Magisterium), that proclaims this.

 

[marymyheroine]

I’m just asking why the word “cousin” was used when referring to Elizabeth (I’m not referring to the actual visit), and then “brothers and sisters” was used for those waiting outside with Mary to see him…I BELIEVE IN HER PERPETUAL VIRGINITY.

 

[PRmerger]

I’m just asking why the word “cousin” was used when referring to Elizabeth (I’m not referring to the actual visit), and then “brothers and sisters” was used for those waiting outside with Mary to see him…I BELIEVE IN HER PERPETUAL VIRGINITY.

The better translation is “kinswoman”, not cousin. There is no word in Aramaic for cousin.

 

[Trebor135]

The better translation is “kinswoman”, not cousin. There is no word in Aramaic for cousin.

There appears to have been a misunderstanding. MaryMyHeroine was asking why (1) one term was used for Elizabeth’s relationship to St. Mary, but (2) others were employed for Christ’s relationship to his “brothers/sister”, if in fact (3) both involved the person’s extended rather than immediate family.

 

[PRmerger]

There appears to have been a misunderstanding. MaryMyHeroine was asking why (1) one term was used for Elizabeth’s relationship to St. Mary, but (2) others were employed for Christ’s relationship to his “brothers/sister”, if in fact (3) both involved the person’s extended rather than immediate family.

Ah, I see now.

According to this article on catholic.com, we ought not read too much into word choice used in the NT, as it pertains to cousins/brothers discussion.

Arguments from word choice (i.e., “Why this word instead of this other word?”) are rarely decisive. New Testament word choice is especially difficult to build arguments from since it involves a mixture of Jewish and non-Jewish word preference

 

[De_Montfort]

“St. Ignatius of Antioch already bears witness to this connection:‘Mary’s virginity and giving birth and even the Lord’s death escaped the notice of the prince of this world: these three mysteries worthy of proclamation were accomplished in God’s silence.’”
CCC #498

 

[rjmiller]

Explained here.

 

[rjmiller]

rjmiller:
If scripture sometimes seem to indicate that Mary had other children it may be because it is true. But they would be step-children!

Not much is know of her husband Joseph but it is generally believed that he was much older than Mary and he could have been married before and had children. (his wife of course deceased). As a family his children would have been their children.

Our Catholic belief should be that Mary remained a virgin.

rjmiller