First of all, it seems you all believe that Mary just couldn't of had sex because that would of made her somehow sinful.
May I remind you that God himself says that the marriage bed is undefiled?
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
BUT, when and if Mary was married AND withheld sex, THAT would of definitely been sinful!!
1 Corinthians 7:5
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Now, let's address the most important issue, the fact that the Word of God does say that Mary and Joseph enjoyed an intimate martial relationship.
Each time the phrase "knew her" is used by God, it plainly means sexual intercourse,
whether it happened,
or whether it did not happen,
or when it happened.
Genesis 38:26
And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
(He'd has sex with her once, but not again.)
Judges 19:25
But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
(They had sex with her many times.)
1 Kings 1:4
And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
(They didn't have sex at all.)
Matthew 1:25
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
(They didn't have sex until after Jesus was born, signifying his virgin BIRTH, which was prophetic.)
Now, you see how every easy it is to understand just what God is saying?
You don't have to turn to "Fr." so and so at EWTN or be told what to believe by some vain tradition! Especially when the tradition is at COMPLETE ODDS with God himself!
Through belief and faith in Christ alone, you can be free of the bondage of a false belief, one that denies the complete power of Christ, and gives his intecessory powers to a mere human being.
Think of how you have been betrayed by a false system that would tie your soul to Hell, and consider the freedom found in Jesus Christ.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
I watch you doing this stupid trick for an umpteen time in amazement.
Stubbornly, you quote Matthew 1:25 which does not say anything about Joseph and Mary after the birth of Jesus. Then you are, of course, challenged on it. Then you produce a proof of something that no one is disputing, that to "know" is indeed an euphemism for sexual relation.
Then you repeat that stupidity of yours time after time. Relax. You don;'t understand the scripture. Find some other occupation (knitting?). Seriously.
You're not being honest or respectful of others on this thread.
Luk 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Implying our Lord Jesus was Mary's "first" born and there were others. I believe I counted almost a dozen verses but it doesn't matter. People will choose to believe what they want.
First of all, it seems you all believe that Mary just couldn't of had sex because that would of made her somehow sinful.
Catholics don't believe that marriage or sexual intercourse within marriage is sinful. There are plenty of writings from post-Vatican 2 that express this. Pope John Paul 2 was very adamant about this. We don't see Mary as having sex with Joseph because the early Church didn't believe it. It has nothing to do with sex being "sinful"! Scripture is silent on the issue.
Again, we are not discussing anything about "knowing" someone, but the term "till". It does NOT mean anything about the future. It only discounts sexual activity up to that point. You presume that because a 20th century marriage must include sex, you think that Mary and Joseph had sex. The Scriptures do not make that claim.
Your logic is again faulty. You think that because marriage normally includes sex, and that the Bible talks about sex so much, then Mary and Joseph must have had sex. You are forgetting that with Jesus, we see a new manner of God's actions. First of all, before Christ, EVERY person was born to a man and a woman. Was this the case with Christ? Thus, you logic fails on this issue. When we are speaking about Christ and Christ's mother, we have entered a new way of God's action among men.
Especially when the tradition is at COMPLETE ODDS with God himself!
WOW! "Full Court's interpretation" = the "Word of God"! I never would have guessed it. What arrogance and pride!
Through belief and faith in Christ alone, you can be free of the bondage of a false belief, one that denies the complete power of Christ, and gives his intecessory powers to a mere human being.
Bondage? It is a GREAT comfort to know that other people are praying for me - IN HEAVEN - to include Christ's Mother, Mary. I think it is wonderful that God has allowed His Creation to partake in His Divine Nature and allows men to love other men and pray for them (or woman). We don't stand before God as a disconnected individual. We stand before God as a community of people. This is quite clear from Scriptures. Unfortunately, you are in bondage by stripping the Community from Christianity.
Ma'am, I think you need to broaden your narrow view of Christianity.
Regards