Question:
I know that there are different opinions regarding the virginal birth of Jesus and the Church has not made a definite decision regarding it.
We know that it was in a miraculous way. Some say Mary suffered no pain, others say she did but not as much as other women because God said in Genesis "I will 'greatly multiply' your pain in childbearing..." indicating that there would have been some pain during delivery.
There are some that say that the miraculous birth meant that the hymen of the Virgin Mary was never ruptured and that is how she was a virgin during birth. Something akin to walking through walls. But if that is so what about the placenta, and the umbilical chord?
Others say that Jesus just suddenly appeared; one instant being in the womb then the next being outside of the womb, sort of again going through walls. I personally don't buy that because again what happened to the placenta and the umbilical chord.
In Hebrews 2:17 the Ignatius Bible says "Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect..." so my belief is that Jesus did pass through the birth canal otherwise he would not have been like us.
What is your take on all of this?
Thank you and God bless you.
P.S. Sorry I posted this on here but the Faith and Spiritual section will not accept any e-mail addresses.
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Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD
Dear Chas:
Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger gives a good summary answer to this:
"The essential truth of the Virgin Birth, as taught continually by the Fathers and defined by the Church, does not concern the presence or absence of pain during Jesus’ birth. The central truth of the Virgin Birth is that Christ was born of Mary miraculously, as a sign and confirmation of His divinity. The Virgin Birth has always been distinguished from the Virginal Conception, because it was a separate and distinct miraculous event. It was not a natural birth, nor is it explainable by natural causes. Our Lady’s physical virginity, with all that it implies, remained integral and intact before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. St. Bernard, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, and the Catechism of the Council of Trent all teach the painlessness of the birth as a logical consequence of its miraculous nature."
The Catechism of the Council of Trent states:
For in a way wonderful beyond expression or conception, he is born of his Mother without any diminution of her maternal virginity. As he afterwards went forth from the sepulcher while it was closed and sealed, and entered the room in which his disciples were assembled, although “the doors were closed” (Jn. 20:19), or, not to depart from natural events which we witness every day, as the rays of the sun penetrate the substance of glass without breaking or injuring it in the least: so, but in a more incomprehensible manner, did Jesus Christ come forth from his mother’s womb without injury to her maternal virginity. …
To Eve it was said: “In pain you shall bring forth children” (Gen. 3:16). Mary was exempt from this law, for preserving her virginal integrity inviolate, she brought forth Jesus the Son of God, without experiencing, as we have already said, any sense of pain. (21)
Hope this helps.
God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary
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