> TO: Father Mateo, 76776,306
> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 96 21:34:30 +1100
> From: Chuen Y Eric Lo <cyl@kbs.citri.edu.au>
> Subject: My Question on The Mystery of Perptual Virginity
>
> In late December last year I asked a question on the mystery
> of Our Lady's perpetual virginity. The question was about
> what exactly perpetual virginity meant, and what theological
> implication it had. Actually the question was stimulated by
> a posting from another subscriber whose question raised the
> concern of accepting this doctrine.
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> Eric
Sysop note: We were unable to find your original question, we
were upgrading software, and etc. I do hope this rerun is of
some help, please feel free to ask another question (we do
ask to receive only one question per message).
Msg Base: AREA 5 - ASK FATHER CIN ECHO AMDG
Msg No: 122. Thu 8-15-91 6:51
From: Father Mateo
To: Dan Pacheco
Subject: Perpetual Virginity of Mary
Dear Dan:
With regard to Mary's virginity, it is of Catholic faith,
declared by the 5th Ecumenical Council (A.D. 553) that she was
virgin all her life and had no other children.
In the files of this network we have two articles on this
subject, which you can download: 1) Karl Keating's BRETHREN OF
THE LORD (ANSWER15.ASC in CATHOLIC ANSWERS directory), and 2)
Father Mateo's OUR LADY'S LIFELONG VIRGINITY: SOME OBSERVATIONS
(MATEO.ZIP in USERS directory)*.
The words translated "brother" and "sister" are, in Greek,
members of the ADELPH- family of cognates. These words are used
in the Koine Dialect (the Greek of the Septuagint and the New
Testament) to mean: brother/sister, relative/kinfolk,
related/associated/cognate, and several other similar notions.
The language used in Matt. 12:46-50, 13:55-56; Mark 3:31-32, 6:3;
Luke 8:19-20; John 2:12, 7:3-5; Acts 1:14; 1st Cor. 9:5, and Gal.
1:19 does not prove the existence of Jesus' siblings. The
ADELPH- words cannot support the strain of such a violent
departure from the faith of the Church.
Actually, there were a few early Christian writers who did deny
the perpetual virginity of Mary. They were invariably met with
indignant protests and finally with the conciliar declaration of
A.D. 553. There is also a consistent liturgical witness to the
doctrine, shared by both Catholics and Orthodox. Protestants
usually ignore Orthodox witness in Marian theology, but in fact
East and West are joined in one confession of Mary's perpetual
Virginity, a truth quietly shared in peace until the emergence of
Protestantism.
Frankly, I cannot see what the problem is! Many, who deny Mary's
perpetual virginity, nevertheless affirm her virginity before and
during Jesus' birth. Yet the Virgin Birth of Jesus required an
astounding miracle, and Mary's lifelong virginity afterwards
required none. To object to the latter doctrine while admitting
the former seems to strain out a gnat while swallowing a camel.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
##Mmr 2.38a. !link DP 7-04-91 14:57
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