Perpetual Virginity of Mary

[eamonnroma]

The Divine Motherhood of Mary was accepted I think in the Council of Ephesus. The Immaculate Conception became a dogma in 1854. The Assumption of Mary was proclaimed in 1950.

However I can find nowhere where the perpetual virginity of Mary is procalimed as a dogma, no council of the Church, no dogmatic defenition. I know that it is mentioned in the Catechism, but the catechism is not dogmatic.

That Mary was a virgin at the birth of Christ yes, but she was ever so after the birth of Christ?
I find no evidence anywhere. Tradition yes I agree. Similary the dogma of the Assumption was a ‘tradition’ until 1950, but only from that date was it an integral and required part of the Catholic faith.

I am not saying that I do not believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary… I am seeking clarification on the dogmatic aspect. If it is a required part of our Faith, where and has it been defined?

Eamonn

 

[Spencerian]

The Divine Motherhood of Mary was accepted I think in the Council of Ephesus. The Immaculate Conception became a dogma in 1854. The Assumption of Mary was proclaimed in 1950.

However I can find nowhere where the perpetual virginity of Mary is procalimed as a dogma, no council of the Church, no dogmatic defenition. I know that it is mentioned in the Catechism, but the catechism is not dogmatic.

That Mary was a virgin at the birth of Christ yes, but she was ever so after the birth of Christ?
I find no evidence anywhere. Tradition yes I agree. Similary the dogma of the Assumption was a ‘tradition’ until 1950, but only from that date was it an integral and required part of the Catholic faith.

I am not saying that I do not believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary… I am seeking clarification on the dogmatic aspect. If it is a required part of our Faith, where and has it been defined?

Eamonn

Yes, the perpetual virginity of our Blessed Virgin Mother has been held as dogmatic since 649. See this Ask an Apologist question and answer.

 

[runningdude]

Just to nick-pick, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption have always been part of the deposit of faith. These are objective truths, and the events of 1850’s and 1950’s merely served to confirm what was always true.