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The Church Fathers- Mary: Ever Virgin
The Church Fathers ^ | 120AD-450AD

Posted on 05/31/2011 11:53:33 AM PDT by marshmallow

The Protoevangelium of James

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by [St. Anne], saying, ‘Anne! Anne! The Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive and shall bring forth, and your seed shall be spoken of in all the world.’ And Anne said, ‘As the Lord my God lives, if I beget either male or female, I will bring it as a gift to the Lord my God, and it shall minister to him in the holy things all the days of its life.’ . . . And [from the time she was three] Mary was in the temple of the Lord as if she were a dove that dwelt there” (Protoevangelium of James 4, 7 [A.D. 120]).

“And when she was twelve years old there was held a council of priests, saying, ‘Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve years in the temple of the Lord. What then shall we do with her, lest perchance she defile the sanctuary of the Lord?’ And they said to the high priest, ‘You stand by the altar of the Lord; go in and pray concerning her, and whatever the Lord shall manifest to you, that also will we do.’ . . . [A]nd he prayed concerning her, and behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him saying, ‘Zechariah! Zechariah! Go out and assemble the widowers of the people and let them bring each his rod, and to whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, his wife shall she be. . . . And Joseph [was chosen]. . . . And the priest said to Joseph, ‘You have been chosen by lot to take into your keeping the Virgin of the Lord.’ But Joseph refused, saying, ‘I have children, and I am an old man, and she is a young girl’” (ibid., 8–9).

“And Annas the scribe came to him [Joseph] . . . and saw that Mary was with child. And he ran away to the priest and said to him, ‘Joseph, whom you did vouch for, has committed a grievous crime.’ And the priest said, ‘How so?’ And he said, ‘He has defiled the virgin whom he received out of the temple of the Lord and has married her by stealth’” (ibid., 15).

“And the priest said, ‘Mary, why have you done this? And why have you brought your soul low and forgotten the Lord your God?’ . . . And she wept bitterly saying, ‘As the Lord my God lives, I am pure before him, and know not man’” (ibid.).

Origen

“The Book [the Protoevangelium] of James [records] that the brethren of Jesus were sons of Joseph by a former wife, whom he married before Mary. Now those who say so wish to preserve the honor of Mary in virginity to the end, so that body of hers which was appointed to minister to the Word . . . might not know intercourse with a man after the Holy Spirit came into her and the power from on high overshadowed her. And I think it in harmony with reason that Jesus was the firstfruit among men of the purity which consists in [perpetual] chastity, and Mary was among women. For it were not pious to ascribe to any other than to her the firstfruit of virginity” (Commentary on Matthew 2:17 [A.D. 248]).

Hilary of Poitiers

“If they [the brethren of the Lord] had been Mary’s sons and not those taken from Joseph’s former marriage, she would never have been given over in the moment of the passion [crucifixion] to the apostle John as his mother, the Lord saying to each, ‘Woman, behold your son,’ and to John, ‘Behold your mother’ [John 19:26–27), as he bequeathed filial love to a disciple as a consolation to the one desolate" (Commentary on Matthew 1:4 [A.D. 354]).

Athanasius

“Let those, therefore, who deny that the Son is by nature from the Father and proper to his essence deny also that he took true human flesh from the ever-virgin Mary” (Discourses Against the Arians 2:70 [A.D. 360]).

Epiphanius of Salamis

“We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of all things, both visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God . . . who for us men and for our salvation came down and took flesh, that is, was born perfectly of the holy ever-virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit” (The Man Well-Anchored 120 [A.D. 374]).

“And to holy Mary, [the title] ‘Virgin’ is invariably added, for that holy woman remains undefiled” (Medicine Chest Against All Heresies 78:6 [A.D. 375]).

Jerome

“[Helvidius] produces Tertullian as a witness [to his view] and quotes Victorinus, bishop of Petavium. Of Tertullian, I say no more than that he did not belong to the Church. But as regards Victorinus, I assert what has already been proven from the gospel—that he [Victorinus] spoke of the brethren of the Lord not as being sons of Mary but brethren in the sense I have explained, that is to say, brethren in point of kinship, not by nature. [By discussing such things we] are . . . following the tiny streams of opinion. Might I not array against you the whole series of ancient writers? Ignatius, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and many other apostolic and eloquent men, who against [the heretics] Ebion, Theodotus of Byzantium, and Valentinus, held these same views and wrote volumes replete with wisdom. If you had ever read what they wrote, you would be a wiser man” (Against Helvidius: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary 19 [A.D. 383]).

“We believe that God was born of a virgin, because we read it. We do not believe that Mary was married after she brought forth her Son, because we do not read it. . . . You [Helvidius] say that Mary did not remain a virgin. As for myself, I claim that Joseph himself was a virgin, through Mary, so that a virgin Son might be born of a virginal wedlock” (ibid., 21).

Didymus the Blind

“It helps us to understand the terms ‘first-born’ and ‘only-begotten’ when the Evangelist tells that Mary remained a virgin ‘until she brought forth her first-born son’ [Matt. 1:25]; for neither did Mary, who is to be honored and praised above all others, marry anyone else, nor did she ever become the Mother of anyone else, but even after childbirth she remained always and forever an immaculate virgin” (The Trinity 3:4 [A.D. 386]).

Ambrose of Milan

“Imitate her [Mary], holy mothers, who in her only dearly beloved Son set forth so great an example of material virtue; for neither have you sweeter children [than Jesus], nor did the Virgin seek the consolation of being able to bear another son” (Letters 63:111 [A.D. 388]).

Pope Siricius I

“You had good reason to be horrified at the thought that another birth might issue from the same virginal womb from which Christ was born according to the flesh. For the Lord Jesus would never have chosen to be born of a virgin if he had ever judged that she would be so incontinent as to contaminate with the seed of human intercourse the birthplace of the Lord’s body, that court of the eternal king” (Letter to Bishop Anysius [A.D. 392]).

Augustine

“In being born of a Virgin who chose to remain a Virgin even before she knew who was to be born of her, Christ wanted to approve virginity rather than to impose it. And he wanted virginity to be of free choice even in that woman in whom he took upon himself the form of a slave” (Holy Virginity 4:4 [A.D. 401]).

“It was not the visible sun, but its invisible Creator who consecrated this day for us, when the Virgin Mother, fertile of womb and integral in her virginity, brought him forth, made visible for us, by whom, when he was invisible, she too was created. A Virgin conceiving, a Virgin bearing, a Virgin pregnant, a Virgin bringing forth, a Virgin perpetual. Why do you wonder at this, O man?” (Sermons 186:1 [A.D. 411]).

“Heretics called Antidicomarites are those who contradict the perpetual virginity of Mary and affirm that after Christ was born she was joined as one with her husband” (Heresies 56 [A.D. 428]).

Leporius

“We confess, therefore, that our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, born of the Father before the ages, and in times most recent, made man of the Holy Spirit and the ever-virgin Mary” (Document of Amendment 3 [A.D. 426]).

Cyril of Alexandria

“[T]he Word himself, coming into the Blessed Virgin herself, assumed for himself his own temple from the substance of the Virgin and came forth from her a man in all that could be externally discerned, while interiorly he was true God. Therefore he kept his Mother a virgin even after her childbearing” (Against Those Who Do Not Wish to Confess That the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God 4 [A.D. 430]).

Pope Leo I

“His [Christ’s] origin is different, but his [human] nature is the same. Human usage and custom were lacking, but by divine power a Virgin conceived, a Virgin bore, and Virgin she remained” (Sermons 22:2 [A.D. 450]).


TOPICS: Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: virginmary
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To: Quix

541 posted on 06/02/2011 1:54:02 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Lera; Iscool
Thank you Lera: Actually he is sitting at the right hand until his enemies are made his footstool.
The right hand is a symbol of power used throughout the Old Testament.

I'm not sure if Iscool would agree to this -- some folks believe that God the Father is the same person as Jesus and the Holy SPirit.

542 posted on 06/02/2011 1:56:22 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Quix
oh, it's pretty clear that you do not display the fruit of the Holy Spirit at all in your posts

saying Quix: Luther doesn’t cut any ice with me.

He was clearly brainwashed by horrific deceptions, too.

543 posted on 06/02/2011 1:57:34 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Iscool; Lera; metmom
Iscool: Jesus is God...The Holy Spirit is God and the Father is God...

If Mary is the Mother of God, Mary is the Mother of all three...

now you do not understand the nature of the Trinity -- three hypostases but one substance/essence. The bearer of one is not the bearers of the others.

If we take your philosophy that they all share the same hypostasis, then your statement is true, because Mary was the Mother of Jesus undoubtedly

now either you believe that Jesus Christ is God or not. If He is God, then what was Mary the mother of?

544 posted on 06/02/2011 2:01:33 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: stfassisi

The Second person of the Trinity didn’t come into existence when Mary conceived.

Christ, as part of the Trinity, existed without beginning as the Father and the Holy Spirit. He appears at several times in the OT in a theophany.

She gave birth to the physical body He lived in on this earth. She did not give birth to His spiritual nature.


545 posted on 06/02/2011 2:25:35 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Cronos

I’m certainly quite flawed.

However, I think I’ll go on trusting Christ’s Blood and God’s perfect judgment on such scores.


546 posted on 06/02/2011 2:26:29 PM PDT by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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To: Cronos; Amityschild; Captain Beyond; Cvengr; DvdMom; firebrand; GiovannaNicoletta; HossB86; ...

BTW, Do you know if this

new dogma you seem to be espousing

has gotten into the Vatican Cult Catechism yet?

. . .

That Vatican Cult and Ortho’s get special indulgences or out of Purgatory early or blanket forgiveness for whatever

based on . . .

drum roll . . .

purported Proddy sins?

How exactly did Ishtar-Mary inform the magicsterical of the new dogma?


547 posted on 06/02/2011 2:30:28 PM PDT by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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To: Quix
The dogma of the Trinity is what we Christians have always believed. three hypostases but one substance/essence.

Though, wait a minute -- you believe that after your death, you get a final sanctification and see your life flash before your eyes, correct?

548 posted on 06/02/2011 2:32:58 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Quix
Apocalypse 4:3-6 tells us
[3] And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. [4] And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats, four and twenty ancients sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their heads were crowns of gold.

[5] And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

[6] And in the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like to crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind

this is a description of the throne occupied by God in His three hypostases

This is further described in Apocalypse 5:6

And I saw: and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth
But remember 1 Tim 6:16
[16] Who only hath immortality, and inhabiteth light inaccessible, whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and empire everlasting. Amen
we may never be able to understand completely the enormity that is the Godhead, but we can focus on the Lamb, Jesus Christ, the Son, the Word of God
549 posted on 06/02/2011 2:35:03 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Quix

Why exactly did Jesse Duplantis believe that he zoomed to heaven, met Abraham and David and comforted Jesus?


550 posted on 06/02/2011 2:36:20 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Quix
Why exactly did Jesse Duplantis believe that he zoomed to heaven, met Abraham and David and comforted Jesus?

What was that you were saying about believeing in unbiblical stuff straight from hell?

551 posted on 06/02/2011 2:37:25 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Quix
I’m certainly quite flawed.

How so? Do you have any examples, or is that just posturing?

552 posted on 06/02/2011 2:39:22 PM PDT by papertyger
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To: Quix
Why exactly did Jesse Duplantis believe that he zoomed to heaven, met Abraham and David and comforted Jesus?

What was that you were saying about believeing in unbiblical stuff straight from hell?

And how come your Benny Hinn is also showing the devil's horns?


553 posted on 06/02/2011 2:39:35 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Quix

Jesse Duplantis, the guy who preached that You, not God, Decides When to Die

“I’m going to say something that will knock your lights off. Go has the power to take life, but He can’t. He’s got the power to do it, but He won’t. He’s bound; He can’t. He says, “Death and life is in the power of” who’s tongue? Yours. You ready for this? You want something that’ll knock your lights off? You choose when you live; you choose when you die. Death and life is in the power of your tongue, not God’s.
As you said "wholesale gross UNBiblical deceptions from hell" -- what do you think of Herr Duplantis now?
554 posted on 06/02/2011 2:44:43 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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Comment #555 Removed by Moderator

To: Quix
yes, as I said, it's pretty clear that you do not display the fruit of the Holy Spirit at all in your posts

Falsehoods are not the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

556 posted on 06/02/2011 2:47:20 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: Iscool; lastchance
Iscool: I am the church, a small c, the body of Jesus Christ.

Interesting... the next Moon Sung lee?

557 posted on 06/02/2011 2:48:28 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: helloandgoodbye
What about your leaders? What sign do they show?

And if you really are a Messianic Jew, how do you reconcile the stories that the Tanakh differs from the Old Testament?

558 posted on 06/02/2011 2:57:06 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: helloandgoodbye
And, do you believe in Benny Hinn's belief in 9 gods?
God has 9 parts (tri-theistic).

A. God has a body, soul and spirit.
B. Jesus has a body, soul and spirit.
C. Holy Spirit has a body, soul and spirit. (Benny Hinn, Benny Hinn broadcast, recorded 10/13/90)

Is that valid in your opinion?
559 posted on 06/02/2011 2:58:46 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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To: helloandgoodbye
What about this one -- "He [Jesus] who is righteous by choice said, 'The only way I can stop sin is by Me becoming it. I can't just stop it by letting it touch Me; I and it must become one.' Hear this! He who is the nature of God became the nature of Satan where He became sin!" (Benny Hinn, TBN, 12/1/90).

As a Messianic Jew you must reject this, right?

560 posted on 06/02/2011 3:00:00 PM PDT by Cronos (Palin, Cain, Jindal)
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