Mary's Virginity (I)

Virginity is hardly in fashion these days. It is undervalued and some go as far as to challenge Mary's virginity. Before Mary's time - although the Jewish people considered a woman's sterility as something shameful - elements pointing to the idea of Christian virginity were appearing. For instance, great importance was given to the virginity of the betrothed; we see this notion as well in the context of God's promises and the Covenant. However, with Mary virginity takes on a new importance. Mary is the only woman of the New Testament to receive the title of virgin (Lk 1: 27; Mt 1: 23). We need to examine two facts which are interdependent but nonetheless distinct: the virginal conception of Jesus (Lk 1: 35) and Mary's perpetual virginity (Lk 1: 34). First, we must not confuse Immaculate Conception and virginal conception. The former refers to the fact that Mary was conceived without original sin, the latter that Mary conceived Jesus of the Holy Spirit while remaining a virgin. On a philosophical level, an atheist or an agnostic could logically affirm that virginal conception is impossible. Not so for those who believe God exists. As a matter of fact, if we admit the existence of a God who created all things, in the name of what principle can we deny him the possibility of making a virgin conceive?