[SoothingDave]

If Mary knew before she had her chat with the angel that she was to remain a virgin for eternity, why in the world didn't she tell Joseph?

Who says she didn't?

He wanted to dump her for cying out loud. I guess that shoots your little Mary fantasy all to hell. :-)

Hello? Jospeh found out that Mary was pregnant. Her being pregnant was evidence of #1, her breaking her virginity vow, #2, with some other man, #3 therefore being a bit of a slut.

Being "just" he was going to do it quietly so she wouldn't get stoned. It has no bearing on her virginity. Jospeh acted as you would expect, until the angel told him she wasn't a fornicator.

SD

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Being "just" he was going to do it quietly so she wouldn't get stoned. It has no bearing on her virginity. Jospeh acted as you would expect, until the angel told him she wasn't a fornicator.

You don't think Mary tried to explain to him what was in her whom after the chat with the angel? Of course she did, he just didn't believer her until it was shown to him in a dream. Should have been easy for Joseph to believe had they dicussed her "immaculate conception" beforehand.

[OLD REGGIE]

Being "just" he was going to do it quietly so she wouldn't get stoned. It has no bearing on her virginity. Jospeh acted as you would expect, until the angel told him she wasn't a fornicator.

And that she'd be a perpetual virgin? Sure!