Honor the virginity of Mary, Church Fathers: Day 361

Honor the virginity of Mary

In this well-known passage, Origen talks about the “brothers of Jesus” men­tioned in the Gospels. Taking careful note of both Scripture and Tradition, Ori­gen concludes that the perpetual virginity of Mary is the most reasonable belief.

Now those who say this (that the “brothers of Jesus” were not sons of Mary) wish to preserve the honor of Mary in virginity to the end, so that that body of hers which was appointed to minister to the Word who said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:35) might not know intercourse with a man after that 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 first-fruit among men of the purity that consists in chastity, and Mary among women. It would not be not pious to attribute the first-fruit of virginity to anyone other than her.

–Origen, Commentary on Matthew, 10:17

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

How can we best convey the example of Mary to a world where virginity is a con­stant joke?

CLOSING PRAYER

Hail, God-receiving Mary, received in heaven by God; hail, blessed Virgin, the book in which virgins may read, the book that tells us of the eternal Light.

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