The constant teaching of the Church, readily seen in very early writings of the Church Fathers, is that Mary remains perpetually a Virgin, before, during and after birth. It is an article of Faith that must be accepted by all Catholics. The Virginity of Mary precludes consummation of marriage. The doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary is not only implicitly support by the Gospels but is explicitly affirmed by the early and constant Tradition of the Church, as manifested by early Patristic writers and Councils. Among the very early witnesses we note the following:
Clement of Alexandria (second century): “It appears that even today many hold that Mary, after the birth of her Son, was found to be in the state of a woman who has given birth, while in fact she was not so. For some say that, after giving birth, she was examined by a midwife, who found her to be a virgin (probably referencing the “Protoevangelium of James”). These things are attested to by the Scriptures of the Lord, which also give birth to the truth and remain virginal, in the hiddenness of the mysteries of truth. ‘She gave birth and did not give birth’, Scripture says, since she conceived by herself, not as a result of union with a man.”
Origen (second/third centuries): “There is no child of Mary except Jesus, according to the opinion of those who think correctly about her.” (this statement suggests that the perpetual virginity of Mary was already recognized as doctrine).
VIRGIN GIVING BIRTH (in partu)
This Virgin became a Mother while preserving her virginity; And though still a Virgin she carried a Child in her womb; And the handmaid and work of His Wisdom became the Mother of God (St. Ephraim)
…made Son of Man, born of the Virgin Mary in an indescribable and stainless way,--for there is no stain where God is and whence salvation comes,--whole man and at the same time God also, on behalf of the whole suffering man… (St. Gregory of Nazianz)
According to the condition of the body He was in the womb, He nursed at His mother’s breast, He lay in the manger; but superior to that condition, the Virgin conceived and the Virgin bore, so that you might believe that He was God who restored nature… (St. Ambrose)
Mary is the gate through which Christ entered this world, when He was brought forth in the virginal birth and the manner of His birth did not break the seals of virginity (St. Ambrose)
That same power which afterwards brought the Body of the Young Man through closed doors, brought the Body of the Infant forth from the inviolate virginal womb of the Mother. (St. Augustine)
He [Jovian] destroyed the virginity of Mary, saying that it was lost by her having given birth. (Augustine)
Where are they who think that the Virgin’s conceiving and the Virgin’s giving birth are just like those of other women? Theirs is of the earth, hers is of heaven. Hers is by divine power, theirs by human weakness. A Virgin conceived, a Virgin bore, and a Virgin she remains. (St. Vincent of Lerins)
He was conceived of the Holy Spirit within the womb of the Virgin Mother, who gave birth to Him while preserving her virginity just as she had, while preserving her virginity, conceived Him… (St. Leo I)
Human usage and custom was lacking, but by divine power it was brought about that a Virgin conceived, a Virgin bore, and Virgin she remained. (St. Leo)
We teach that every word and operation, be it something divine and celestial or be it human and earthly, proceeds from one and the same Christ and Son, and from His one composite and singular Person (2) the immaculate virginity which was unblemished before the birth, during the birth, and after the birth… (St. Sophronius of Jerusalem)
…in a holy conception and in an inviolable birth, in accord with the realities of both natures, the same Virgin would be both handmaid of the Lord and His Mother also (St. Gregory Great)
We must understand that the divine operation, if comprehended by reason, is not remarkable; nor does that faith which human reason puts to the test have merit…The Body of the Lord came into the presence of the disciples through closed doors, which Body, in truth, at His birth came forth to human eyes from the closed womb of the Virgin…He entered through closed doors, who, coming so that he might die, came forth from the unopened womb of the Virgin. (St. Gregory)
And just as He that was conceived kept her that conceived a Virgin still, he that was born kept her virginity intact, only passing through her and keeping her closed. The conception was through the sense of hearing; but the birth was through the usual channel by which children come, even if some do prattle of His birth being through the side of the Mother of God. Certainly it was not impossible for Him to come by this gate without injuring its seal in any way. Thus the Ever-Virgin remains after birth a Virgin still, never having consorted with man until death…For how were it possible that she, who had borne God, and had come to know that miracle from her experience of subsequent events, should receive the embrace of a man. Perish the thought! (St. John Damascene)
VIRGIN AFTER BIRTH (post partum)
Let those, therefore, who deny that the Son is by nature from the Father and proper to His essence, deny also that he took true human flesh from the Ever-Virgin Mary. (St. Athanasius)
Just as in the time of Mary, the Mother of God, the Death who had reigned from Adam until then found, when he came to her and dashed his forces against the fruit of her virginity as against a rock, that he was himself shattered against her, so too in every soul that passes through this life in flesh that is protected by virginity, the strength of death is shattered and annulled, when Death finds no place in which to fix his sting (St. Gregory Nyssa)
It helps us to understand the terms first-born and only-begotten when the Evangelist tells that Mary remained a virgin “until she brought forth her first-born son”; for neither did Mary, who is to be honored and praised above all others, marry anyone, nor did she ever become the Mother of anyone else, but even after childbirth she remained always and forever an immaculate virgin. (Didymus the Blind)
…who for us men and for our salvation came down and took flesh, that is, was born perfectly of the holy ever-virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, was made man… (St. Epiphanius)
Was there ever anyone of any breeding who dared to speak the name of the Holy Mary, and being questioned, did not immediately add, “the Virgin?” For by such added names the positive proofs of merit are apparent. And to Holy Mary, Virgin is invariably added, for that Holy Woman remains undefiled. (St. Epiphanius)
We believe that God was born of a virgin, because we read it. We do not believe that Mary was married after she brought forth her Son, because we do not read it…As for myself, I claim that Joseph himself was a virgin, through Mary, so that a Virgin Son might be born of a virginal wedlock. (St. Jerome)
A Virgin conceiving, a Virgin bearing, a Virgin pregnant, a Virgin bringing forth, a Virgin perpetual. Why do you wonder at this, O man? It was fitting for God to be born thus… (St. Augustine)
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. (St. Augustine)
We confess, therefore, that our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God…made man of the Holy Spirit and the Ever-Virgin Mary, was born of God… (St. Prosper of Aquitaine)
Therefore He kept His Mother a Virgin even after her child-bearing, which was done for none of the other saints (St. Cyril of Alexandria)
A Virgin conceived, a Virgin bore, and a Virgin she remains (St. Vincent of Lerins)
But Mary, the glorious Mother of Christ, who is believed to be a virgin both before and after she bore Him, has, as we said above, been translated into paradise, amid the signing of the angelic choirs (St. Gregory Tours)
…who [Jesus Christ] in these most recent times was conceived of the Holy Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God in an indescribable manner and inviolately. (St. John Damascene)
…who preserved her virginity intact after her parturition—He was pleased even after her departure from life to honor her immaculate and undefiled body with incorruption and with translation prior to the common and universal resurrection. (St. John Damascene) ©
Thanks, Sheryl Ann
Father Echert
