Why do we say Mary "ever virgin" if scripture says that Joseph did not have relations with her until after the birth of Christ?

[fourgiven]

In the gospel it says that Joseph did not have relations with Mary until after the birth of Christ. Yet we are taught that Mary was a virgin for life. How do we reconcile scripture to what we are taught?

 

[Devon_Caffran]

The following links should assist you in better understanding Mary’s perpetual virginity. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/contact/contact-us) directly.

**Recommended Reading:
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• Doesn’t Scripture imply that Mary had children other than Jesus?
• Did Jesus have brothers?
• Perpetual Virginity: Why is this important?
• Mary: Ever Virgin
• Why should any doctrine not explicitly referred to in the Bible, be listened to?
• How can we know a doctrine is true if it’s not in the Bible?
• How do we know that the Protoevangelium of James is credible?
• Does Church Tradition exist only to interpret Scripture?
• Non-Canonical Writings…
• Oral Traditions not found in the Bible