The Importance of Mary's Virginity?

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Why is it important that Mary, the mother of Jesus, remained a virgin? I notice that the Church has gone to great lengths to point that detail out and has glorified that aspect of her life. It’s clear that God did not require her to remain a virgin. He did after all promote her marriage to Joseph. It doesn’t make sense that God would ask Joseph to take Mary as his wife, yet require that Mary remain a virgin after Jesus’s birth. For what reason would she need a husband if that were the case? If it were God’s intention that Mary remain a virgin she could have remained single and been the first nun.

Does the Church glorify Mary’s virginity because it somehow shows that Mary was faithful to God? Is there an insinuation that had Mary had sex with Joseph that she would somehow be unfaithful to God? Is there a tendency to think that had Mary produced other children that this would somehow detract from Jesus?

Why is it important for me to remember that she had no sexual relations with her husband?
 
It is important first because it is true.

As well, in Catholic theology, typology plays an important role. Mary is the figure of the Church, the virgin bride of Christ, in Scripture and Tradition. In fact, I just did a book review 😉 of Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), on his book Daughter Zion in which he delves into much of the typology of Mary as the figure of the Church, and how her perpetual virginity speaks to this as well as other types, such as the Ark. Mary is the ultimate example of the spotless bride, reserving herself for her bridgegroom. This example is a benchmark for we in the Church, who are called to submit to Christ the bridegroom.

As well, the dogma speaks of the divinity of Christ, for Mary, as the dwelling place of God, cannot have sin, because such an intimate union of God is incompatible with sin. We see this in other figures of Mary such as the Garden of Eden (a “dwelling place” of God), from which Adam and Eve were expelled as soon as they sinned; the temple sanctuary (a “dwelling place” of God), which required the purification of the high priest before he entered; or the Ark of the Covenant itself, which was not to be touched, as we saw when Uzziah touched it and died. These, especially Mary, speak to Jesus Christ’s divinity, without which, his sacrifice has no eternal value as ransom for mankind.
 
MarcoPolo said:
It is important first because it is true.

As well, in Catholic theology, typology plays an important role. Mary is the figure of the Church, the virgin bride of Christ, in Scripture and Tradition. In fact, I just did a book review 😉 of Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), on his book Daughter Zion in which he delves into much of the typology of Mary as the figure of the Church, and how her perpetual virginity speaks to this as well as other types, such as the Ark. Mary is the ultimate example of the spotless bride, reserving herself for her bridgegroom. This example is a benchmark for we in the Church, who are called to submit to Christ the bridegroom.

As well, the dogma speaks of the divinity of Christ, for Mary, as the dwelling place of God, cannot have sin, because such an intimate union of God is incompatible with sin. We see this in other figures of Mary such as the Garden of Eden (a “dwelling place” of God), from which Adam and Eve were expelled as soon as they sinned; the temple sanctuary (a “dwelling place” of God), which required the purification of the high priest before he entered; or the Ark of the Covenant itself, which was not to be touched, as we saw when Uzziah touched it and died. These, especially Mary, speak to Jesus Christ’s divinity, without which, his sacrifice has no eternal value as ransom for mankind.
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Well said 👍
 
I would also point out that because of the history surrounding Mary’s Immaculate Conception, she is said to have been a consecrated virgin. The Protoevangelum of James describes Mary’s parents’ trouble conceiving a child. I believe then it is said that either Mary’s mother, Anne (whose name comes from this very book), had a dream (if I remember correctly) that she would conceive. Anyways, she became pregnant with Mary, and Mary’s mother and father vowed that they would dedicate her life to the Church. And so when Mary was born she became a consecrated virgin, by which she stayed within the church, helping out, and serving God. Consecrated virgins are to maintain a vow of celibacy. The story further says that Joseph, a man of older age, and a widow, was selected to be her guardian when she came of age, to protect her and look after her. They essentially become married, but remain celibate. It was consider a great wrong to defile a consecrated virgin. All the more reason for there to be controversy surrounding Mary’s pregnancy with our Lord.

And though the Protoevangelum of James is not scripture, it is a historical source for seeing what beliefs were held in the early Church.

Also, MarcoPolo’s post is very good.
 
I can answer why she needed a husband. Women had to be cared for in those days. It was necessary for her safety and the safety of Jesus. A single teenage mom would have been stoned to death, which also would have killed Jesus. If somehow that did not occur, how would she have raised Him on her own, how would they eat? Where would they live? Who would have taken them to Egypt to avoid Herod? And yes, she remained a virgin. Joseph was a good and Godly man. He realized that Mary was the spouse of the Holy Spirit. Never would he ask her to violate that vow. Joseph was so humble. He would never have felt worthy enough to “know” Mary. If they had more children, there would have been plenty of references to them when Jesus was lost in the Temple when He was 12, and at the foot of the Cross. But instead, Mary was given to John to be cared for because there was no one left at that point. Joseph had already died and Jesus was dying on the cross. Women had to be cared for by someone, which points back to why Mary needed Joseph as an earthly husband in the first place. By today’s standards this may seem ridiculous. We see women who never marry, we see single moms, we never hear of celibate marriages (NFP is too “inconvenient”). But if we look back 100 years ago even it makes a little more sence. There were many more couples who remained in celibate marriages of convience for various reasons. Many Old Maids married widowers so they could be cared for and so they could care for the widowers children. Why wouldn’t God make a similar arrangement to provide for His spouse and child?
 
MarcoPolo said:
It is important first because it is true.

As well, in Catholic theology, typology plays an important role. Mary is the figure of the Church, the virgin bride of Christ, in Scripture and Tradition. In fact, I just did a book review 😉 of Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), on his book Daughter Zion in which he delves into much of the typology of Mary as the figure of the Church, and how her perpetual virginity speaks to this as well as other types, such as the Ark. Mary is the ultimate example of the spotless bride, reserving herself for her bridgegroom. This example is a benchmark for we in the Church, who are called to submit to Christ the bridegroom.

As well, the dogma speaks of the divinity of Christ, for Mary, as the dwelling place of God, cannot have sin, because such an intimate union of God is incompatible with sin. We see this in other figures of Mary such as the Garden of Eden (a “dwelling place” of God), from which Adam and Eve were expelled as soon as they sinned; the temple sanctuary (a “dwelling place” of God), which required the purification of the high priest before he entered; or the Ark of the Covenant itself, which was not to be touched, as we saw when Uzziah touched it and died. These, especially Mary, speak to Jesus Christ’s divinity, without which, his sacrifice has no eternal value as ransom for mankind.
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Good answer…👍👍
 
JamesATyler said:
Why is it important that Mary, the mother of Jesus, remained a virgin? I notice that the Church has gone to great lengths to point that detail out and has glorified that aspect of her life. It’s clear that God did not require her to remain a virgin. He did after all promote her marriage to Joseph. It doesn’t make sense that God would ask Joseph to take Mary as his wife, yet require that Mary remain a virgin after Jesus’s birth. For what reason would she need a husband if that were the case? If it were God’s intention that Mary remain a virgin she could have remained single and been the first nun.

Does the Church glorify Mary’s virginity because it somehow shows that Mary was faithful to God? Is there an insinuation that had Mary had sex with Joseph that she would somehow be unfaithful to God? Is there a tendency to think that had Mary produced other children that this would somehow detract from Jesus?

Why is it important for me to remember that she had no sexual relations with her husband?
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Well I do know that God had Joseph marry Mary because the proper way for a family is 2 parents not a single parent household like you see today, plus God could not let Jesus be born to an unmarried woman! :eek::eek: Do you know what children born to unmarried women are called?? So Mary being married to Joseph is no indication that God never intended for her to not remain a virgin. Within marriage is the proper way to have a child and raise a family. What would it look like if the history of Christianity and our savior was a child born out of wedlock? Sinners and unbelievers would jump all over that. God knew what He was doing and a husband was necessary for Mary for many reasons as others have mentioned.
 
Just a thought: In ancient Jewish tradition marriage consisted of two different ceremonies, the betrothal or erusin and the wedding or nissuin. Mary was betrothed to Joseph, this is clear but it was custom that the marriage was not consummated until after the nissuin. Jesus was made Incarnate by the power of The Holy Spirit, this act was in a very real sense the nissuin, which made Mary the Bride of The Holy Spirit. As was stated she became the Ark of the New Covenant, the Holy of Holies at this point.
Joseph, in an act of great piety and faith, did not put off his betrothed but rather accepted the will of God and played the part of faithful husband to Mary and foster parent to Our Lord. Mary, of course, would have been greatly shamed and so would Jesus have been in the eyes of the community, if Joseph had shunned her after she conceived.
Mary is daughter to The Father, Mother to The Son and Bride to The Holy Spirit. Just a thought.
 
Mary’s Spouse is the Holy Spirit. Joseph was assigned to be guardian and protector of Mary and Joseph, so he married Mary.

There is no indication that Mary had other children; the other people mentioned are relatives (and their real mothers are mentioned in Scripture or early writings) and if Mary had other children one of them would have taken care of Mary after Jesus instead of John (unrelated). One didn’t just send one’s mother off to live with a non-relative if family was available.
 
Thanks to those of you who liked my post—ultimately thank the likes of Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Emeritus Benedict for his incredible theology. :o
 
First, had Joseph and Mary had children, then God, in ‘overshadowing Mary’, was not conceiving a child in ‘wedlock’ Himself, but rather ‘cuckolding’ Joseph, just like the pagan gods who would take the wife of a mortal man, impregnate her with a 'half god/half man;, and throw her back to the mortal. “Here you go, Joe, now it’s YOUR turn”. (YUCK).

Then imagine the FUN of Mary and Joseph, given the responsibility of caring for GOD (Jesus, a helpless baby), but dividing their time to have their OWN children.

And then imagine the siblings of Jesus.
“Joseph Jr, stop that whining. JESUS never whines.”
“Rebecca, put down that mirror. JESUS is never vain.”
“Tobias, LOOK at your report from the rabbi. JESUS never gets a bad report.”
“Miriam, stop stuffing yourself. JESUS is never a glutton”.

Yeah, your brother is PERFECT in every way. Your parents treat him like he’s GOD!
NOTHING you do is ever good enough but JESUS doesn’t even TRY to be good, he just IS good.

I will echo Marco in that above all (and for pity’s sake REASON ITSELF should be enough to point out that Mary would remain virgin, and even the FIRST PROTESTANTS LIKE LUTHER ACKNOWLEDGED IT!), the most important reason that the Church teaches this is BECAUSE IT IS TRUE.

We must never cease speaking the truth.
 
Because God’s ideal is for 2 parent family …with one male & one female. Same sex parents are not in God’s FAMILY PLAN.

Although many in USA wish to make it so.
 
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