Posted on 03/20/2017 8:23:03 AM PDT by Salvation
Monsignor Pope Ping!
Oh most emphatically yes! We are in a sense his foster sons and daughters, since St. Joseph is the protector of the “children” of the Church.
Most likely from a prior marriage. Women often in those days passed on first.
Other children?
Mary only had one son, Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Since the church is the bride of Christ, the only way this could be true is if the Nestorians are correct, and Mary only gave birth to Jesus' human nature which could become part of a church, while Jesus' divine nature, which is still awaiting his marriage to the church, was off somewhere else.
I think it would be more accurate to say that the church in its earliest age consisted of Mary and Joseph--or, perhaps, that the church did not yet exist, first since no one had been baptized in the name of Jesus, and second since none had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, which occurs at Pentecost.
Name them. If your claim is based on Scripture, their names are in there. Otherwise you’re trying to bind believers to something not contained in the clear words of Scripture, aren’t you?
Nothing indicates/supports that view. A conceivable possibility, yes, but not a shred of evidence of it actually being the case. You’d think that if he was traveling to Bethlehem, then to Egypt, _on_foot_, that there’d be at least some mention of his others if there were any - not to mention the other situations where “brothers” are mentioned with zero indication they’re not hers, nor his by another.
The only impetus for this notion is the hysterical insistence that Mary _never_ acted as a normal (and fertile!) wife for Joseph - which then raises the prospect of their having never consummated, meaning they are not recognized as married, which then leads to a host of other strange problems (Mary & Joseph just shacked up?). In a culture where procreation was paramount (to the point of barrenness lamented), staying together without “trying” seems odd.
An oft-suppressed truth of Scripture is the sheer _mundanity_ of His life. He had normal healthy parents who had other offspring after Him. Occam’s Razor applies.
“If your claim is based on Scripture, their names are in there.”
It says he had brothers - clearly, several times.
There is no need for God to provide names just because you demand them.
Are you confusing the words “brothers” or “sisters” with the word in use at that time: “brethren”, which was used for all relatives?
They were extended family or friends.
Many minister use the phrase “Brothers and sisters”, but they are really talking to their congregation.
James, Joseph, Judas and Simon are mentioned in Scripture as His brothers and the fact that He had sisters is also documented but as the custom was their names are not mentioned. Matt. 13:55 and Mark 6:3.
The words are clear enough to me (without the Catholic colored glasses on).
No confusion on our part. They are grouping this Mans family. Specifically His father, mother and siblings.
Now, who is trying to bind believers to something not contained in the clear words of Scripture?
Just a different viewpoint.
Or in Heaven in full.
“since St. Joseph is the protector of the “children” of the Church.”
Chapter and verse please. If no reference, please link to some evidence that anyone before 100ad taught or believed this.
Thanks.
Yet there were extended family members.
Your question seems to assume that one could have, or needs to have, "proof" for pious devotions. This is by noi means the case.
It's as if to say, "prove" to me that refrigerator magnets portraying "Praying Hands" were taught in Scripture or were thought at any time prior to 1928 to be permitted in a Christian home. :o)
St. Joseph was (as we know from Scripture) protector of the Holy Family, hence of the Christ Child; we may (again, Scripturally) consider ourselves Christ's brothers and sisters, and hence part of His household (the Church); and from that, St. Joseph is seen as protecting us. And he's not the only one. We all -- all! --- share spiritual goods with each other through prayer. This is known as the Communion of Saints.
Pretty straightforward analogy, motivated by love.
You're welcome.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.