[marshmallow]

Jerome, saint, doctor of the Church, biblical scholar and translator of the Vulgate version of the Bible expounds the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Blessed Mary. Written around 380AD, it shows once more, the ancient ecclesial origin of this teaching.

[marshmallow]

Ping!

[marshmallow]

Further to our discussion a day or two back on this subject.

A little "romish mythology" for you.......... :-)

[Mr. K]

Yes! this is wonderful news!

It would change EVERYTHING if I though her and her husband were ‘doing it’

I am so glad thousands and thousands of pages of articles are spent dicussing Mary’s ‘prepetual virginity’

Beacuse THATS IMPORTANT!

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

A PV of the BVM ping at you.

Ahhhhh, memories. Back in the days of really good CAT fights!

[xjcsa]

Jerome, saint, doctor of the Church, biblical scholar and translator of the Vulgate version of the Bible expounds the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Blessed Mary. Written around 380AD, it shows once more, the ancient ecclesial origin of this teaching.

Ancient? Yes. Biblical? No. In fact, he spends his whole time trying to wiggle out of the plain meaning of the text.

I do particularly enjoy where he refers to Helvidius as an "ignorant boor" and in the next breath complains that Helvidius might resort to attacking him.

[LiteKeeper]

Awful lot of hermeneutical gymnastics to “prove” what the Bible is silent on. Jerome was not infallible, and had an agenda to sustain. Couple this with the Immaculate Conception myth, another issue about which the Bible dos not speak, and you have a lot of mythology!!!

[Christian Engineer Mass]

What is the point of this doctrine? Is it to imply that Mary is sinless?

Matthew 1:23-25

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

[what's up]

Lots of words from a fallible man (yes, he did good things but perfect he was not) and not about the plain meaning of the Bible. To Jerome, chastity was a favored state so he could not accept that Mary was not chaste throughout life.

Trust what the Bible clealy says and beware those who twist and turn scripture for their own ends. It is the BIBLE that is the Word of God...not what men (even revered men) say about it.

[wbarmy]

The first commandment given to Adam AND Eve was to go forth and multiply. Those who have no God or belief in their lives celebrate it by NOT having children. The man and woman with an empty quiver are the most unhappy, whether by choice or not.

God wants heaven to be full with the children of the believers. For the believers themselves to “forgo” having children so that can be “more” holy is perverse. Non are righteous, except by the blood of Jesus. Whether we marry or not does not in one wit effect our “Holiness”. It is only effected by our relationship to Jesus.

[JenB]

What a horribly non-Christian view of marriage Jerome had! I wonder how someone who spent as much time thinking about theological things could think so poorly of the one human institution ordained by God before the fall of man.

[ex-snook]

After all the only thing that governs is that Mary was the mother of Jesue, Son of God, the Word made man. She was with Jesus from birth to the cross. Behold your mother.

[Quix]

GAG . . . WHAT AN ABSURD NOTION . . . perpetual barrenness.

Doesn’t sound like Scripture.
Doesn’t sound like God.
Doesn’t sound like Truth.
Doesn’t sound like Joseph or Mary.
Doesn’t sound rational.

[dangerdoc]

This whole thing mystifies me. Which would be more biblical, a young jewish wife that stays a virgin for her entire life or a young jewish wife that provides beautiful babies for her and her husband to share and raise.

Unless somebody can show me that sex in marriage is sin, I won’t understand why Mary would need to remain a virgin after giving birth to Jesus.

[TASMANIANRED]

The more things change the more they stay the same.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

Excellent. Thanks for posting this.
Merry Christmas.

[Uri’el-2012]

Jerome, saint, doctor of the Church, biblical scholar and translator of the Vulgate version of the Bible expounds the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Blessed Mary. Written around 380AD, it shows once more, the ancient ecclesial origin of this teaching.

It seems that all sorts of non-scriptual teachings
were accumulated during the fourth century.

Psalm 118:

8 It is better to take refuge in YHvH Than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in YHvH Than to trust in princes.

14 YHvH is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach