Dglang, how exactly then do you approach the verse from Luke that I posted (#156). Anti-Catholics seem to avoid this as a matter of course.
Mary was greatly blessed in being chosen to be the earthly mother of Jesus. Being blessed however, doesn't mean that she forever remained a virgin, or that she herself was born of a virgin.
The bible itself declares that she was greatly blessed in being chosen for that role. The bible never declares that she was forever sinless or faultless either before or after bearing and raising Jesus.
A little time our here, Jesus' actual name is Jeshua which is formed of the same root word/s as Joshua which stands for 'Salvation'. (returning to previous topic).
Even the apostles themselves stated that they shouldn't consider themselves as being more special than anyone else because of the special relationship that they had with Jesus as his desciples or because of the spiritual gifts that they may have been given.
The bible declares that the Holy Spirit himself gives the gifts to all believers as HE wills. It is not the believers right ro privilige to say that they will or will not have a particular gift or office assigned to them.
All believers are free to accept the giftings or 'offices' or 'callings' offered to them by the Spirit. To accept and receive the Spirits giftings or blessings results in the greatest benefit to the believer while rejecting the Spirit always results in loss.
Mary's office' or 'role' or 'gifting' was beyond her own ability to cause to happen. She could have turned down the opportunity and someone else would have been chiosen and blessed instead of her. If the Spirit did not chose her for that blessing, she would have been powerless to make it happen.
She was a glad and willing participant in obedience to her understanding of the prophets who declaired that the Messiah was to be born of a virgin. She also had the ancestry that would have uniquely qualified her for her 'office'.
Jesus is said by the bible to be 'the lamb that was slain from the foundation of teh world'. Mary I am sure was also chosen by God ahead fo time to fulfill the role that she was uniquely qualified for by her lineage. If Mary would have rejected her 'calling' God wouldhave found another who met all His stated requirements.
She knew the potential for shame and rejection for being pregnant before getting married and yet she faced the possibility of rejection to be obedient to the news the angel brought her.
Being chosed to be the earthly mother of the Messiah was greatly desired by the women of Israel who knew the prophecies. It was a great honor and anyone chosen to be that vessel would be greatly honored and blessed, above all other women who desired that blessing.