From the Pastor's Desk | December 21

Our Gospel reading quotes the seventh chapter of Isaiah which is also our first reading for this Fourth Sunday of Advent.  Isaiah’s prophecy of a virgin giving birth to a child is linked by Matthew to the birth of Jesus Christ who was brought forth by the virgin Mary.  I think it is appropriate to write about why the virgin birth - and Mary’s perpetual virginity - is so important as a tenet of the Catholic faith as to be elevated to that of a dogma - something that must be believed by Christians as true.  This dogma is included in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed that we profess at Mass each Sunday.  

The Catholic Church has always held that Mary was perpetually a virgin.  In 390 at the Synod of Milan, Mary’s perpetual virginity was affirmed as the only orthodox view.  In 649, at the Lateran Synod, Pope Martin I declared Mary as virgin ante partum, in partu, et post partum - that is before, during, and after Christ’s birth.  But, why is this so important for us as Christians?  Why does it matter? 

Well, there are several reasons why Mary’s virginity matters.  I am only going to address three: 
Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  This was God’s act, or initiative, not Joseph’s.  Mary, of course, in her great fiat (her great yes) consented to God’s initiative and God’s plan for salvation history.  God never forces himself upon us.  He respects our freedom and our free will to either choose or reject him.  If Mary were not a virgin before or during her pregnancy there would be considerable doubt as to who Jesus Christ is - or at least claims to be.  Was this Joseph’s son or was he truly the Son of God?  By Mary being in the state of virginity, there could be no doubt that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God.  In addition, by remaining a virgin and sinless in her own conception, Mary was the most fitting vessel to bring forth the God-Man.  Her virginity is evidence of her total and complete consecration to God.  

Mary’s virginity has implications for each one of us.  Recall, as Jesus was dying on the Cross, he looked at John and said, “Behold your mother.”  Then, he looked at Mary and said, “Behold your son.”  Jesus wasn’t trying to ensure that his mother would be cared for upon his death.  Rather, this encounter between the three of them was Jesus giving Mary to the Church as Mother.  This encounter would have made absolutely no sense if Mary had other children who would care for her.  On the contrary, her children were now the entire Body of Christ - the Church. 

Mary’s virginity is a matter of truth.  The Church has held the position, and defended in fact, that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ from its earliest days.  Mary’s virginity was even defended by the earliest Protestant Reformers such as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin.  Only two created beings were present at the Annunciation - the angel Gabriel and Mary herself.  St. Luke, the third Evangelist, was born between 1 A.D. and 10 A.D. and died sometime between 84 A.D. and 100 A.D.  It is widely held by Christian tradition and in his writing that St. Luke personally knew and met with Mary.  His Gospel is traced back to Mary’s own testimony.  There is debate as to whether or not Mary gave St. Luke oral testimony or whether he derived her testimony in written form.  But, this would become a far lengthier article if I were to include all of that.  Suffice it to say, Mary’s virginity and the Church’s defense of it has always been from the beginning as a matter of truth and not opinion.  In other words, it is not up for debate and has thereby been declared a dogma of the Church.

As we pray today, let us pray through our Blessed Mother’s intercession, to welcome her Son all the more into our hearts and in guidance of our lives.  We are days away from Christmas.  The Angelus commemorates God’s Incarnation and Mary’s ‘Yes.’  Like Mary, let us say “Yes” to God all the more - whatever it is he might be asking of us. 

Know of my prayers for you all! 
Fr. Ryan