In this installment of Mary in the Dock, we put the claim of Mary’s perpetual virginity on trial. Many Protestants see the “brothers of Jesus” mentioned in the Gospels and the word “until” in Matthew 1:25 as decisive proof that Mary and Joseph had a normal married life after Jesus’ birth. We examine those objections carefully and then explore the Catholic response — from the broader biblical and Jewish use of the word “brother,” to the idiomatic meaning of “until,” to the early and unanimous witness of the Church Fathers. Far from being a late ascetic invention, the perpetual virginity of Mary emerges as a profoundly fitting expression of her unique role as the New Ark and the Mother of God. Whether you’re wrestling with this teaching or simply want to understand why the Church has always held it, this episode offers a clear and Scripture-centered defense.
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Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.