MORAL STORIES

HOLY VIRGIN MARY

The Catholic Church venerates St. Mary as the most glorious of God’s creations, entirely sin-less and ever virgin. The references in the Gospels about the “brothers of Jesus” have been misinterpreted by a few as evidence against her virginity. But it is well documented in the Holy Scriptures and the Sacred Traditions that the brothers cited there were the cousins and other close relatives of Jesus, called colloquially as brothers.

Jesus, the Divine Word made flesh, assumed human nature in the womb of St. Mary. From womb to tomb, she followed Jesus in His life. The Church has accepted her ever-spotless virginity as a sacred truth in all ages. Mary remained a virgin when she conceived, gave birth to Jesus and even after His birth. The poet, William Wordsworth praised her as “our tainted nature’s solitary boast”. Her womb, which carried her Holy Son, was the “first Tabernacle” in the New Testament. God’s Divinity recognized her purity, virginity and humility and thus the redemption of humanity became a reality.

In the Holy Mass of the Malankara rite of the Catholic Church, the virginity of St. Mary is remembered in the image of the miraculous flaming bush which was not devoured by fire, described in Exodus 3:1-5. The hymn, “Mulmaram eriyatheruthee than naduvil….” can be translated and sung in the same tune as:

“Flaming bush was not ignited by surrounding fire.

Thus, Almighty dwelt in Mary in human image.

Hence her vow of virginity-

Did not suffer any damage.”

By: N. G. Philip, Bethel, Nalamchira, Thiruvananthapuram-695015, Kerala & Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.

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