The birth of Jesus

[Montie_Claunch]

My aunt and I were chit chating about religoin and she asked me a question which I don’t know the answer to and she asked me to ask ya’ll.

She had heard that the Catholic Church holds the postion that Jesus wasn’t born the normal was through the… you know. that… but and somehow, misticly (sp?)(If that be the right word for it) birthed through the abdnomin (not like a C-section). Has anyone heard of this?

Thanks and God bless.

 

[Thal59]

Fr. Benedict Groeshel once spoke of this on a show I saw on EWTN. He said that Jesus was not born through the birth canal, but was born miraculously by emanating through the womb the same way the risen Jesus emanated as light through the door of the upper room.

He said that this was also a dogma of the church.

Thal59

 

[JimG]

I’ve heard that too. That Jesus exited the womb the same way he entered the upper room while the doors were closed and locked. The method of Jesus birth is not a dogma of the Church. But it is a dogma that Mary retained her virginity before, during, and after his birth.

 

[SemperJase]

JimG:

The method of Jesus birth is not a dogma of the Church. But it is a dogma that Mary retained her virginity before, during, and after his birth.

This is one we have to go with the Bible on IMO. There is nothing in the gospel to indicate that Jesus birth was anything other than a normal vaginal birth.
Matthew 1:25
but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Notice, she gave birth, and not the Jesus “emanated” from Mary’s womb. The bible says Mary gave birth. That means Jesus was born in the way that baby’s naturally enter the world.

Luke confirms this:
Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

“Give birth”. If Jesus emanated from the womb, Mary did not give birth.

We are told that Tradition cannot contradict the Bible. If the emanation theory were actual dogma, it would clearly contradict scripture.

 

[John_Henry]

JimG:

I’ve heard that too. That Jesus exited the womb the same way he entered the upper room while the doors were closed and locked. The method of Jesus birth is not a dogma of the Church. But it is a dogma that Mary retained her virginity before, during, and after his birth.

I’ve seen Isaiah 66:7 used on this:

Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she was delivered of a son.

 

[Della]

Thal59:

Fr. Benedict Groeshel once spoke of this on a show I saw on EWTN. He said that Jesus was not born through the birth canal, but was born miraculously by emanating through the womb the same way the risen Jesus emanated as light through the door of the upper room.

He said that this was also a dogma of the church.

Thal59

I can’t believe Fr. Groeschel said this idea is a dogma of the Church. If so, it’d be the first time I heard it. I’m sure you misunderstood what Father said.

No. Jesus was born of a woman, as Paul tells us. Mary gave birth to Jesus and was truly his mother. The silly idea that he “emanated” from her womb would also give rise to the mistaken belief that he wasn’t conceived of her but was merely implanted in her or that he was not truly human and other such heresies.

 

[JimG]

I never saw the program; but perhaps Fr. Groeschel was speaking of the virgin birth as a dogma, not the method of delivery.

 

[Thal59]

Della:

I can’t believe Fr. Groeschel said this idea is a dogma of the Church. If so, it’d be the first time I heard it. I’m sure you misunderstood what Father said.

No. Jesus was born of a woman, as Paul tells us. Mary gave birth to Jesus and was truly his mother. The silly idea that he “emanated” from her womb would also give rise to the mistaken belief that he wasn’t conceived of her but was merely implanted in her or that he was not truly human and other such heresies.

I am certain of what Fr. Groeschel said. It does not disturb me at all. If a child is removed from the mother surgically, without passing through the birth canal, do we not still say the child was born of that woman? In order for Mary to maintain perfect virginity in its most unspoiled state, the miraculous birth would be mandatory.

Then there is Ezechiel 44: 1-3,

"And he brought me back to the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary, which looked towards the east: and it was shut. And the Lord said to me: This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall pass through it: because the Lord the God of Israel hath entered in by it, and it shall be shut for the prince. The prince himself shall sit in it, to eat bread before the Lord: he shall enter in by the way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the same way."

These verses are a clear referrence to Mary, and to the virgin birth. At least, that is the way they have been explained before and that make perfect sense to me.

Thal59