[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

For Catholics, the model woman is Mary, the virgin Mother of God.

Matthew 13:53ff in the Bible indicates Jesus had brothers AND sisters. How is it that Catholicism teaches that Mary had no other children? Just curious.

[Don Myers]

"Matthew 13:53ff in the Bible indicates Jesus had brothers AND sisters. "

She was married. That's ok under those circumstances. I think that Catholics like to believe that she remained virginal for her entire life.

[Pyro7480]

I don't know if ANYONE considered this one: maybe JOSEPH was married to a woman before Mary, and then Jesus would have half brothers and sisters. Apocryphal writings about the life of Joseph state that he was married to a woman who was possibly named Salome, and the youngest child of theirs supposedly James the Less (the Lord's brother). Anyway, remember that the Bible wasn't written in English (that's right folks!). The word that was translated as "brothers and sisters" from ancient Greek and Aramaic could have meant any close blood relative of Jesus, from first cousin to half siblings. The story of Mary and Joseph's relationship is a mystery, and probably always will be, just as the teenage years of Jesus.

On the subject of the thread itself, I'm going to post my thoughts soon.

[hobbes1]

Matthew 13:53ff in the Bible indicates Jesus had brothers AND sisters. How is it that Catholicism teaches that Mary had no other children? Just curious.

Because you are an idiot. Jesus was of the house of DAVID. Sisters and for that matter Brothers would be other Members of the House of DAVID, not Direct offspring of Mary and Joseph