A Wrong Version of the Virgin

Many people in the Catholic Church have been given a wrong version of the Virgin Mary.

Catholics are correctly taught that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, as the Bible indicates in both the Old and New Testaments.

Isaiah the prophet foretold the virgin birth some 700 years before Christ was born. Isaiah said:

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  (Isaiah 7:14)

Matthew and Luke in their gospels both show us that Mary was a virgin prior to the birth of Christ (See Matthew 1 & Luke 1).

Unfortunately, Catholics are incorrectly taught that Mary remained a virgin for the rest of her life after the birth of Jesus. In keeping with this false doctrine the Catholic Church has been able to encourage many girls over the centuries to become nuns in their convents.

Augustine believed that Mary remained a virgin.

In being born of a Virgin who chose to remain a Virgin even before she knew who was to be born of her, Christ wanted to approve virginity rather than to impose it. And he wanted virginity to be of free choice even in that woman in whom he took upon himself the form of a slave (Holy Virginity 4:4 [A.D. 401]).

Heretics called Antidicomarites are those who contradict the perpetual virginity of Mary and affirm that after Christ was born she was joined as one with her husband (Heresies 56 [A.D. 428]). 

In Catholic theology women who become nuns must remain unmarried, as a life of celibacy is imposed on them. Unfortunately, many nuns incorrectly think that they are modeling their lives on the Virgin Mary. Although Mary married Joseph, according to Catholic doctrine she remained free from sexual relations with her husband.

The doctrine of celibacy of nuns, priests and brothers has wreaked havoc within the church and society and is a clear departure from the faith

The bible indicates to us that Mary did not remain a virgin for the rest of her life.

 According to the Bible Mary had no sexual relations with Joseph until after the birth of Jesus.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. (Matthew 1:24 )

Jesus had brothers and sisters.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament indicate this. Psalm 69 is a Messianic Psalm and refers to the fact that the mother of the Messaiah had other children.

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. (Psalm 69:8 )

For neither did his brethren believe in him. (John 7:5)

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (Mark 6:3 )

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. (Galatians 1:18)

A wrong version of the Virgin Mary has deprived multitudes of Catholic women from the joy of marriage and deprived them of ever experiencing the joys of motherhood and family.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1)