Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The third article of the Apostle’s Creed is “Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary” There are nineteen (19) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 510.
We are assured by the Creed that Jesus Christ was ‘conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. While the Lord and giver of life, the Holy Spirit, is active in every conception, what is particular about that of our Lord is that the Virgin Mary conceived without the aid of man. Saint Joseph is the foster-father of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 1:18- 24). The ‘Perpetual Virginity’ of Mary is addressed by the Catechism by citing Saint Augustine’s Sermon 186. Saint Augustine addresses Mary’s perpetual virginity under five (5) headings: Conception, Birth, Carrying, Nourishing, Duration.
Though the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph were truly married (consent makes the Marriage), they never consummated their union corporally. Part of the mystery of the Incarnation is not only that God became man and was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4), but also that the conception in question occurred by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:31-35). This is not be confused with Mary’s being conceived without any stain of Original Sin, which we commemorate each year on 8 December, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. We celebrate liturgically Christ’s being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit each year on 25 March, nine (9) months before Christmas (25 December).
For some, that the Virgin Mary maintained her virginity is of little importance. But, it was important enough for Saint Augustine to address it as well as for Pope John Paul II (with help from Joseph Ratzinger et. al.) to include it in the Catechism. When the Saints have read Sacred Scripture and see that Mary is called “virgin” (Luke 1:27) theys have recognized this usage as a stable state of life. Ours is an age with little respect for chastity, modesty, virtue or virginity. Not only was the Blessed Mother preserved by God’s grace from any and all sin, she was likewise preserved from any degradation. Some have wrongly exalted Virginity at the expense of Holy Marriage. Marriage and the love between husband and wife are sacred paths to Heaven. For Our Lady though, her virginity included giving birth and carrying Christ (both in and out of the womb) as well as nursing Him.
A fond title for the Virgin Mary which is in the Confiteor (I confess) is “… ever Virgin…” Another fond title of Our Lady is ‘Servant of the Lord’ (Luke 1:38). Let us all, married or not, guard our virtue through the intercession of the Virgin Mary that we might all serve the Lord as He wishes all our days.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr