The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""200 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.It is in this sense that the title of Mother of God,denied by Nestorius, was vindicated to her by theGeneral Council of Ephesus in 431; and in thissense, and in no other, has the Church called herthat title.byHence, by immediate and necessary consequence,follow her surpassing dignity and excellence, andher special relationship and affinity, not only withher divine Son, but also with the Father and theHoly Ghost.Mary, as Wordsworth beautifully expresses it,united in her person a mother s love with maidenpurity."The Church teaches us that she wasalways a Virgin, a Virgin before her espousals,during her married life, and after her spouse sdeath. The Angel Gabriel was sent from God.... to a Virgin espoused to a man whose namewas Joseph, .... and the Virgins name waslMary."That she remained a Virgintill after the birth ofJesus is expressly stated in the Gospel. 2 It is notless certain that she continued in the same stateduring the remainder of her days ; for sjie is calleda Virgin in the Apostles and the Nicene Creed, andthat epithet cannot be restricted to the time of ourSaviour s birth, but must be referred to her wholelife, inasmuch as both creeds were compiled longafter she had passed away.1Luke i.26,27.3 Matt. i. 25.