I would like to know if Mary’s perpetual virginity is a dogma of the Catholic Church

Dear Father Angelo,

I would like to know if perpetual virginity is a dogma of the Catholic Church, or if it is simply a truth expressed by the ordinary Magisterium. I cannot find anywhere the text that should be from a council. Many people in my parish also tell me that it is not yet a dogma. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church does not mention it in these terms, but this seems strange to me. Can you give me some certainty? If it is a dogma, would you be so kind as to quote the infallible pronouncement of the Pope who proclaimed it and in which document? Thank you.

Sergio

The priest’s response

Dear Sergio,

1. The truth of Mary’s perpetual virginity has been affirmed by both the ordinary and extraordinary magisterium.

Furthermore, the Church has always professed Mary’s perpetual virginity in its liturgy. The Church is not mistaken in its liturgy because lex orandi est lex credendi, that is, the law of prayer is the law of faith.

2. Here are the texts.

The Second Council of Constantinople (553) makes explicit reference to perpetual virginity: “He took flesh from the glorious Theotokos (Mother of God) and ever-virgin Mary.” This council was convened by Justinian without the pope, but was later approved by Pope Vigilius and declared ecumenical by his successor Pelagius I († 561) .

Mary’s perpetual virginity was defined by the Lateran Council (649) convened by Pope Martin I. The third canon of the council states: ” If anyone does not confess according to the holy fathers that the holy and ever-virgin and immaculate Mary… (did not) give birth without corruption (incorruptibiliter), her indissoluble virginity remaining even after childbirth, let the same God the Word, born of the Father before all ages, be condemned” (Mansi, 10, 1151-1152).

The Lateran Council was not an ecumenical council. But Martin I was convinced of the obligation to accept what he called “the pious definition of the orthodox faith” and therefore sent letters to the bishops of the East and West so that all would accept its canons. Therefore, at least by virtue of the pope’s authority, Mary’s perpetual virginity is a defined truth of faith.

Paul IV, in his constitution Cum quorundam hominum of August 7, 1555 (against certain errors spread by Protestants), condemns those who claim that Jesus “was not conceived in the womb of the most blessed and ever-virgin Mary by virtue of the Holy Spirit, but like other men from the seed of Joseph… or that the most blessed Virgin Mary is not truly the Mother of God, and that she did not remain a virgin forever, that is, before, during, and after giving birth, forever” (DS 1880).

Lumen Gentium refers to the Lateran Council when it states that “the firstborn Son did not diminish her virginal integrity, but consecrated it” (LG 57, note 10). Paul VI, in his exhortation Signum Magnum (May 13, 1967), says that Mary “remained a virgin in childbirth and after childbirth, as the Catholic Church has always believed and professed” (n. 11), and in the profession of faith of 1968 he reiterates that “We believe that Mary is the Mother, who remained ever Virgin, of the Incarnate Word, our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Some ancient Marian prayers, accepted by the liturgy of the Church, bear witness to Mary’s perpetual virginity.

For example: “Under your protection we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not despise the pleas of us who are in trial, but deliver us always from every danger, o glorious and blessed Virgin.”

Likewise: “You who, in the wonder of all creation, gave birth to your Creator, ever-virgin mother, have mercy on us sinners” (“Alma Redemptoris Mater… Tu quae genuisti natura mirante tuum sanctum genitorem, Virgo prius ac posterius, peccatorum miserere”).

As you can see, belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity is well documented.

Thank you for your question. I will keep you in my prayers and bless you.

Father Angelo

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