Would it have been wrong for Mary not to be 'ever-virgin'?

[Sherlock]

tdandh26:

I think it is pretty obvious that Mary had taken a vow of perpetual virginity, by her question to Gabriel. She certainly would have known how procreation takes place and the mere fact she was betrothed should have hindered this type of question. She asks in the sense of, is God asking me to break my vows and have relations with Joseph? hence the answer of the Angel. If she had asked it for any other reason, then why would she not have been punished in the way Zachariah was?

Very good point—Zachariah was treated very differently. Since God is not arbitrary, the difference in Mary’s treatment must lie within Mary’s reasons for asking.

 

[javelin]

Elzee:

I’ve never heard this being the meaning of that phrase. I’ve only heard it in connection with the ‘cloud of God overshadowing the Ark of the Covenant’ in the OT, which foreshadows Mary as the New Ark. If that’s the case, it doesn’t seem to imply sexual relations?? I’m confused.

I should have been a little clearer. It is not sexual relations in the physical sense, but a euphamism for entering into a marital, covenantal relationship.

I think I first heard this interpretation from this article, which is pretty good, IMHO: catholicapologetics.net/apolo_154.htm

Hope that helps clarify!

Peace,
javelin

 

[Elzee]

FCEGM:

Hiya, sis!

Hiya back!

 

[Thal59]

Look at it this way…

Should the virginal sanctuary where the word of God became flesh also be the birthplace of sinners?

Though Mary chose to be a virgin, it is the dignity of God that demands that her womb be perpetually holy.

Thal59

 

[Rebecca_New]

It seems to me that Our Blessed Mother was very versed in the OT. Mary did You know, yes She did. Our Blessed Mother knew then that the Lord would be born to a virgin. The OT states this. It also states the Passion. I am thinking that both Mother and Child learned through the OT everything that was to be.