Ever Virgin Mary.
Before, during and after.
Do you ever think about that? The perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary? Some people can become confused by the terms,”Virgin Birth” and “Ever Virgin”. A few people think that Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception refers to the virgin birth, yet the virgin birth specifically refers to Christ’s conception and birth, not Mary’s. The Immaculate Conception does not mean that Our Lady was conceived supernaturally, rather it means Our Lady was conceived without stain of original sin. As the Catechism (491) teaches when quoting Pius IX in his solemn definition of the dogma:
“The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved from all stain of original sin.” - Ineffabilis Deus
The mystery of Our Lady’s perpetual virginity.
In a sense it almost seems indiscreet to ponder, and being a mystery of faith, perhaps even beyond expression. St. John Chrysostom said as much in his homily for Christmas morning:
“Though I know that a Virgin this day gave birth, and I believe that God was begotten before all time, yet the manner of this generation I have learned to venerate in silence, and I accept that this is not to be probed too curiously with wordy speech. For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of Him who works.” - St. John Chrysostom
Photo: Venerable Mary of Agreda, incorrupt.
I have pondered this mystery over and over, full of wonder and awe. I recall my skepticism once, upon reading Mary of Agreda’s account of the birth of our Lord, how the Lord mysteriously, miraculously, ’passed’ through the womb of Mary and was found lying upon the floor of the stable or something. I wondered how such a birth could be. Of course, we are bound to believe that Mary gave birth to our Lord while remaining a virgin - her virginity intact. This mystery also implies that Our Lady, being the Immaculate Conception and therefore not bound under the penalty of original sin, was in addition, not subject to the pains of giving birth either.
“Like light passing through glass.”
I can’t remember who wrote that the birth of our Lord occurred as light passing through glass, a statement which accords well with Ven. Mary of Agreda’s account. I suspect not a whole lot of people really consider this aspect of the Virgin Birth. Indeed, there are many Christians who no longer accept this teaching and insist that the Mother of God gave birth to Jesus Christ in the same manner any other woman gives birth. But that is not the case. Though we may not know or understand precisely how Our Lady remained a Virgin during birth, and therefore after as before, it is a dogma of faith we must believe.
In an allocution given by Pope John Paul II, the Holy Father addressed this very topic:
“Pope St Hormisdas explains that “the Son of God became Son of man, born in time in the manner of a man, opening his mother’s womb to birth [cf. Lk 2:23] and, through God’s power, not dissolving his mother’s virginity” (DS 368). This doctrine was confirmed by the Second Vatican Council, which states that the firstborn Son of Mary “did not diminish his Mother’s virginal integrity but sanctified it” (Lumen gentium, n. 57).” - The Church Presents Mary As Ever Virgin
And then from an earlier Council:
“If anyone does not properly and truly confess in accord with the holy Fathers, that the holy Mother of God and ever Virgin and immaculate Mary in the earliest of the ages conceived of the Holy Spirit without seed, namely, God the Word Himself specifically and truly, who was born of God the Father before all ages, and that she incorruptibly bore [him], her virginity remaining indestructible even after His birth, let him be condemned.” - First Lateran Council, 649 A.D..
I think I may go back and try reading Mary of Agreda for Advent.
