Was Mary always a virgin?

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LSK:
If you were told in your RCIA class that Mary was not perpetually a Virgin you were told an untruth and you need to go BACK to that class and correct the teacher.

Catholics believe, as a matter of FAITH and Dogma in the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Mother.
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:amen: (someone needs to teach that teacher).
 
Nowadays, it seems that there are a lot of lay people who call themselves “Catholic” but don’t want to believe the true Catholic teachings. You really have to do the research yourself and study the catechism because there is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there, sadly, even amongst some priests. The more you look, the more you’ll see what is and isn’t truth.
 
Oh my! I am surprised at your RCIA leaders. They should know better. Mary’s perpetual virginity is one of our most fundamental truths!

As for your other question. I do know that one of the Gospels (sorry, I don’t have the exact reference here) mentions Jesus’ “mother and brothers” being present. Many people automatically jump to the conclusion that He therefore had siblings, but actually the Church teaches that He was Mary’s only child. I believe the Church recognizes that that particular passage was written in the language of that time; although it said “brothers” they were probably some relatives of His, cousins or such. Hope that helps!
 
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ProudToBCathlic:
Oh my! I am surprised at your RCIA leaders. They should know better. Mary’s perpetual virginity is one of our most fundamental truths!

As for your other question. I do know that one of the Gospels (sorry, I don’t have the exact reference here) mentions Jesus’ “mother and brothers” being present. Many people automatically jump to the conclusion that He therefore had siblings, but actually the Church teaches that He was Mary’s only child. I believe the Church recognizes that that particular passage was written in the language of that time; although it said “brothers” they were probably some relatives of His, cousins or such. Hope that helps!
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It seems very clear to me that the Catholic Church has specifically stated already that Mary was and is still a virgin. I think enough people have told you how they think, they have showed you the evidence that they feel justifies it to them, but before you decide to follow those beliefs, ask God in prayer. He is always interested in our ideas and he is always willing to answer.
 
Why is it considered wrong to believe that Joseph and Mary had sex? I don’t think that it makes their life nor Christ’s any less. Is it not safer to just say we don’t know for sure?
 
Carter8, you point might be well taken if the discussion were still developing. However, this is a settled belief. Mary was the spouse of the Holy Spirit and thus not free to marry and have relations with Joseph in the usual way.

The scriptural support is not explicit but all supports the fact that there was no sex before or after Jesus’ birth. Until merely means to the that point and DOES not tell you what happened later.

Also why is Mary so surprised that she would have a baby. By all accounts she was a young woman getting married. Aren’t children expected to come especially if the angel says one is coming?

There is a belief Mary was a consecrated virgin and that would explain the question she poses to Gabriel.

Both John Calvin and Martin Luther believed in the perpetual virginity of Mary.

Mary had a human nature untouched by sin. She passe this on to Jesus what would have happened to her other none divine children?
 
I am not doubting Mary’s virginity before and during her pregnancy with Christ, but what about after words? It seems to be all conjecture to think she and Joseph never had sex nor other children. Is it considered blasphemous to think so?
 
Rosalind Moss has a great talk about Mary. I’m not sure if it’s here on this website but I’m sure if you searched you could find it. I saw a video of the talk last year when I helped with RCIA and she gives a wonderful talk about Mary, her pepetual virginity, and being the Mother of God. Rosalind comes from a Jewish background through Evangelical Protestant until she became a Catholic. She explains Mary beautifully.
 
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carter8:
I am not doubting Mary’s virginity before and during her pregnancy with Christ, but what about after words? It seems to be all conjecture to think she and Joseph never had sex nor other children. Is it considered blasphemous to think so?
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It is not necessarily blasphemous to wonder about it. But, the HUGE problem that comes this line is that it has no stopping point. The first question is could Christ have founded a visible church and invested His apostles with teaching authority that the Holy Spirit would protect from teaching error? I think all but the most ideologically-addled would say yeah, its possible. The next question is did He? I of course believe He did (and I have yet to see anyone put out a better alternative), so there would little point to say x teaching is valid, but y teaching is conjecture, unless I thought I was my own Superpope.
 
I believe Mary was always virgin,before the birth of our Lord,and for the rest of her life.
 
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carter8:
I am not doubting Mary’s virginity before and during her pregnancy with Christ, but what about after words? It seems to be all conjecture to think she and Joseph never had sex nor other children. Is it considered blasphemous to think so?
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The implications are certainly blasphemous. Catholics and virtually all Christians acknowledge that Jesus was NOT Joseph’s son. Mary was married to the Holy Spirit. If you say Mary had sexual intercourse with Joseph you are calling her an adulteress. And if you say she was NOT married to the Holy Spirit, you are calling Jesus a b*****d.

As for that RCIA teacher, talk about “the blind leading the blind”!
 
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momof3boys:
I was told by someone in my family that Catholics believe Mary was always a virgin - never was “with” Joseph. Then I was at my RCIA class & was told they believe they did consumate the marriage. Does anyone know if there is an actual church belief on this? I always thought that Mary actually had other children with Joseph. Is that a protestant opinion?
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From the way you’ve related this, I’d have to tell you to find another RCIA class. The one you’re currently attending is in direct opposition to Catholic teaching.
 
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carter8:
Why is it considered wrong to believe that Joseph and Mary had sex?
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For the same reason it is wrong to believe 2+2=eleventy-seven.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
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momof3boys:
This was actually the person teaching the class that night. He said he felt Joseph was a normal man & why wouldn’t they want to be together?
Thanks for the links, though, I think I’ll go check them out.
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You need to call your pastor right NOW…that man is teaching a heresy. I mean it, that is an outright HERESY. The Church teaches that Mary was EVER VIRGIN…look at the Nicene Creed.
 
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