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To: af_vet_1981
I’m addressing the topic of the thread, the perpetual virginity of blessed Mary, mother of “God with us” according to twenty centuries of unbroken holy tradition in the one holy catholic apostolic church.

Which apparently is not a correct assertion on your part.

There was no full consensus on the doctrine of perpetual virginity within the early Church by the end of the second century, e.g. Tertullian (c.160 – c.225) did not teach the doctrine (although he taught virgin birth), but Irenaeus (c.130 – c.202) taught perpetual virginity, along with other Marian themes.[37] Origen (185-254) was emphatic on the issue of the brothers of Jesus, and stated that he believed them to have been the children of Joseph from a previous marriage.[45] However, wider support for the doctrine began to appear within the next century.[37]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_virginity_of_Mary#Early_Church

517 posted on 05/20/2017 10:29:27 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: ealgeone; metmom
There was no full consensus on the doctrine of perpetual virginity within the early Church by the end of the second century,

Since there was no unanimous consent then it must be OK to contradict the consent of some:

Furthermore, in order to restrain petulant spirits, It decrees, that no one...–wresting the sacred Scripture to his own senses, presume to interpret the said sacred Scripture contrary to that sense which holy mother Church,–whose it is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy Scriptures,–hath held and doth hold; or even contrary to the unanimous consent of the Fathers ; even though such interpretations were never (intended) to be at any time published. ( 4th Session of the Council of Trent)

And from one, Epiphanius (c. 310–320 – 403), who upholds Perpetual Marian Virginity (PMV) yet we have this reproof (for what its worth, which is not much) against making Mary, a goddess, offering her sacrifice, or different in nature than other humans (being sinless is never mentioned), or as one who blesses disciples or rules the earth.

"We should not honour the saints beyond what is fitting, hut honour their Lord and Master. Let then a stop he put to the error of these deluded people. For Mary is not a goddess, nor had she her body from heaven, but was born as others from human parents, though, like Isaac, she was given according to promise, by a special dispensation of Providence....But let no one offer sacrifice to her name, or he will ruin his own soul."

"Yea verily, holy was the body of Mary, but assuredly she was not a goddess...Hence too the Gospel puts us on our guard in those words spoken by the Lord Himself: What to me and to thee, women? My hour is not yet come. Where He expressly called her women, lest some should suppose that the holy Virgin was of a nature more excellent than human..."

"Mary was indeed the vessel of election, but a women, and in no way of a different nature than that of others."

"But God came down from Heaven, the Word clothed with flesh from a holy Virgin, not assuredly, that the Virgin should be adored, nor to make a goddess of her, nor that we should offer sacrifice to her name...Salome...gave her no charge to administer baptism, to bless disciples, nor did He bid her rule over the earth..." Thomas Livius, "The Blessed Virgin in the Fathers of the First Six Centuries," pp. 301,303)

Yet Mary is indeed an Object of sacrifice, and even if it has to be said that it is to Jesus through Mary, yet she is treated as a heavenly sovereign, even if it is said that she will only do God's will.

29. We should choose a special feast-day on which to give, consecrate and sacrifice to Mary voluntarily, lovingly and without constraint, entirely and without reserve: our body and soul, our exterior property, such as house, family and income; and also our interior and spiritual possessions; namely, our merits, graces, virtues and satisfactions.

It should be observed here that by this devotion the soul sacrifices to Jesus, through Mary, all that it holds most dear, things of which even no religious order would require the sacrifice; namely, the right to dispose of ourselves, of the value of our prayers and alms, of our mortifications and satisfactions. The soul leaves everything to be freely disposed of by Our Lady so that she may apply it all according to her own will for the greater glory of God ["Who communicates to us His grace only through Mary"], which she alone knows perfectly. (THE SECRET OF MARY WITH PREPARATION FORTOTAL CONSECRATION; Saint Louis de Montforthttps://www.ecatholic2000.com/montfort/secret/secret.shtml)

It is certain that we have many faults of character. Let us examine ourselves in front of Our Lady's altar by comparing our weakness with her magnificence of soul. When we have discovered our failings, let us be courageous in eradicating them. We can offer this sacrifice to Mary with love and generosity, no matter how hard it may be. (Antonio Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day, May 1, 2016; https://www.facebook.com/cardinalbacci/posts/1131476396895357

In contrast, the Lord is the only being in Heaven believers on earth offer sacrifice and prayers to, but Catholics basically deify their false Mary .

624 posted on 05/20/2017 6:58:07 PM PDT by daniel1212 ( Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned and destitute sinner+ trust Him to save you, then follow Him!)
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