This is a question to all.

Why was Mary called as the Holy Virgin? What does the word Virgin in my question mean?

BMZ

bmzsp wrote: This is a question to all. Why was Mary called as the Holy Virgin? What does the word Virgin in my question mean? BMZ

Well, BMZ, I have been reading since I "left" several days ago.  You must feel pretty proud of yourself....you really "baited" me with this question.  I think you knew I wouldn't be able to resist taking the "bait"!  So the following is my reply from a Catholic viewpoint:

Scripture:

1. The Uniqueness of Mary as the Mother of God

Gen. 3:15 - we see from the very beginning that God gives Mary a unique role in salvation history. God says "I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed." This refers to Jesus (the "emnity") and Mary (the "woman"). The phrase "her seed" (spermatos) is not seen elsewhere in Scripture.

Gen 3:15 / Rev. 12:1 - the Scriptures begin and end with the woman battling satan. This points to the power of the woman with the seed and teaches us that Jesus and Mary are the new Adam and the new Eve.

John 2:4, 19:26 - Jesus calls Mary "woman" as she is called in Gen. 3:15. Just as Eve was the mother of the old creation, Mary is the mother of the new creation. This woman's seed will crush the serpent's skull.

Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23 - a virgin (the Greek word used is "parthenos") will bear a Son named Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." John 1:14 - God in flesh dwelt among us. Mary is the Virgin Mother of God.

Matt. 2:11 - Luke emphasizes Jesus is with Mary His Mother, and the magi fall down before both of them, worshiping Jesus.

Luke 1:35 - the child will be called holy, the Son of God. Mary is the Mother of the Son of God, or the Mother of God (the "Theotokos").

Luke 1:28 - "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you." These are the words spoken by God and delivered to us by the angel Gabriel (who is a messenger of God). Thus, when Catholics recite this verse while praying the Rosary, they are uttering the words of God.

Luke 1:28 - also, the phrase "full of grace" is translated from the Greek word "kecharitomene." This is a unique title given to Mary, and suggests a perfection of grace from a past event. Mary is not just "highly favored." She has been perfected in grace by God. "Full of grace" is only used to describe one other person - Jesus Christ in John 1:14.

Luke 1:38 - Mary's fiat is "let it be done to me according to thy word." Mary is the perfect model of faith in God, and is worthy of our veneration.

Luke 1:42 - "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus." The phrase "blessed are you among women" really means "you are most blessed of all women." A circumlocution is used because there is no superlative in the Greek language. Note also that Elizabeth praises Mary first, and then Jesus. This is hyperdulia (but not latria which is worship owed to God alone). We too can go through Mary to praise Jesus. Finally, Catholics repeat these divinely inspired words of Elizabeth in the Rosary.

Luke 1:43 - Elizabeth's use of "Mother of my Lord" (in Hebrew, Elizabeth used "Adonai" which means Lord God) is the equivalent of "Holy Mary, Mother of God" which Catholics pray in the Rosary. The formula is simple: Jesus is a divine person, and this person is God. Mary is Jesus' Mother, so Mary is the mother of God (Mary is not just the Mother of Jesus' human nature - mothers are mothers of persons, not natures).

Luke 1:44 - Mary's voice causes John the Baptist to leap for joy in Elizabeth's womb. Luke is teaching us that Mary is our powerful intercessor.

Luke 1:46 - Mary claims that her soul magnifies the Lord. This is a bold statement from a young Jewish girl from Nazareth. Her statement is a strong testimony to her uniqueness. Mary, as our Mother and intercessor, also magnifies our prayers.

Luke 1:48 - Mary prophesies that all generations shall call her blessed, as Catholics do in the "Hail Mary" prayer. What Protestant churches have existed in all generations (none), and how many of them call Mary blessed with special prayers and devotions?

Gal. 4:4 - God sent His Son, born of a woman, to redeem us. Mary is the woman with the redeemer. By calling Mary co-redemptrix, we are simply calling Mary "the woman with the redeemer." This is because "co" is from the Latin word "cum" which means "with." Therefore, "co-redemptrix" means "woman with the redeemer." Mary had a unique but subordinate role to Jesus in salvation.

Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2 - the word "saints" (in Hebrew "qaddiysh") means "holy" ones. So Mary is called Holy, the greatest Saint of all.

Luke 2:35 - Simeon prophesies that a sword would also pierce Mary's soul. Mary thus plays a very important role in our redemption. While Jesus' suffering was all that we needed for redemption, God desired Mary to participate on a subordinate level in her Son's suffering, just as he allows us to participate through our own sufferings.

Luke 2:19,51 - Mary kept in mind all these things as she pondered them in her heart. Catholics remember this by devoting themselves to Mary's Immaculate Heart and all the treasures and wisdom and knowledge contained therein.

If you would care to read futher, just click on the link I've included:

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/blessed_virgin_mary.html - http://www.scripturecatholic.com/blessed_virgin_mary.html

God's Peace.

bmzsp wrote: This is a question to all. Why was Mary called as the Holy Virgin? What does the word Virgin in my question mean? BMZ

Nice question BMZ. Another question is why the story of virgin birth seem occured in few other places as well. Were there really few of them?

Alright I got to go to work, see you later.

Dear Patty,

"Well, BMZ, I have been reading since I "left" several days ago.  You must feel pretty proud of yourself....you really "baited" me with this question.  I think you knew I wouldn't be able to resist taking the "bait"! "

Yes, I am.  Gotcha back!  Yes, that was the reason I did it!

The "bait" has also been indirectly for three more! Guess and PM me.

BR

BMZ

superme,

"Nice question BMZ. Another question is why the story of virgin birth seem occured in few other places as well. Were there really few of them?

Alright I got to go to work, see you later."

Thanks and there is so much to discuss on this topic. I will write later in the night.

BR

BMZ

Cyril wrote: Virgin births were so common in pagan religions at the time of Jesus. I strongly suspect Christians to have borrowed the idea from their pagan neighbours.

Well it is always a possibility. But the problem is - it is in the Qur'an as well so I think not.

What I have in mind is why the virgin birth story was like the front page news back then, kind like something that was so big. But maybe it was not, than later on a "strong influental arm" made it big.

ak_m_f,

Can you please empty your PM box and get rid of all "cherished" PMs? I can't get any PM through to you.

Thought you were a stamp collector.

Dear All,

The reason I asked that question is that Muslims and Catholics hold Mary in a very high esteem. One can see that in Patty's reply, when she quoted:

"Luke 1:28 - "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you." These are the words spoken by God and delivered to us by the angel Gabriel (who is a messenger of God). Thus, when Catholics recite this verse while praying the Rosary, they are uttering the words of God."

"Luke 1:42 - "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus." The phrase "blessed are you among women" really means "you are most blessed of all women." A circumlocution is used because there is no superlative in the Greek language. Note also that Elizabeth praises Mary first, and then Jesus. This is hyperdulia (but not latria which is worship owed to God alone). We too can go through Mary to praise Jesus. Finally, Catholics repeat these divinely inspired words of Elizabeth in the Rosary.

Looking at the bold emphasis done by me, Qur'aan says,"O'Mary, God has chosen and made you pure you above all the women of the worlds." This also means that Mary was the most blessed one above all the women of the world. This also does not mean that other women were not pure. It shows a very high stature for Mary.

superme, that honour and the title of "Nisa-Al-Aalameen" was only given to Maryam (Mary) which indicates that she was the Virgin for Ever to remain pure and untouched.

The verse from Isaiah, according to the Jewish Scripture does not refer to a virgin, instead it refers to a young married woman.

Now I come to my main gripe with the Protestants:

The Protestants and their Evangelists downgrade Mary by saying that Jesus had other brothers who were born of Mary through Joseph. Joseph was a very, very old man. Could have been 85+ when all the 85Plus Temple priests asked him to take care of Mary. However, Qur'aan tells us that it was Zeccharias who took custody and looked after her. Not a single gospel says that Mary bore other children.

Mary was not a virgin just till the birth of Jesus. She was a Virgin forever. Thus the other so-called brothers of Jesus were not born of Mary. Jesus was her only son. Catholic Church upholds the point that she was the Virgin forever, like we do. She was thus an Ever-Virgin.

On a side-note, has anyone noticed why only girls were considered fit for serving God in God's temple? Not a single boy was ever selected! The reason: Boys could have never remained "pure".  They could have polluted the Temple!  No wonder.

BMZ

ak_m_f,

Get another penguin, please. He is telling me my "wrong" IP address.  Have you emptied the box? I need to send a PM.