The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 203who are called His brothers, not to the Blessed Virgin, but to another Mary.St. Matthew mentions,by name, James and Joseph among the brethren oflJesus ;and the same Evangelist and also St. Marktell us that among those who were present at thecrucifixion, were Mary Magdalen and Mary the2mother of James and Joseph. And St. John, whonarrates with more detail the circumstances of thecrucifixion, informs us who this second Mary was, forhe says that there stood by the cross of Jesus Hismother and His mother s sister, Mary of Cleophas,and Mary Magdalen. 3 There is no doubt that Maryof Cleophas is identical with Mary who is called byMatthew and Mark the mother of James and Joseph.And as Mary of Cleophas was the kinswoman of theBlessed Virgin, James and Joseph are called thebrothers of Jesus, in conformity with the Hebrewpractice of giving that appellation to cousins or nearrelations. Abraham, for instance, was the uncle ofLot, yet he calls him brother.4Mary is exalted above all other women, not onlybecause she united a mother s love with maidenbut also because she was conceived withoutpurity,"original sin. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception is thus expressed by the Church : We definethat the Blessed Virgin Maryin the first moment ofher conception, by the singular grace and privilege*Matt. xii. 46 ; xiii. 55, 56. 2 Matt, xxvii. ;Mark xv.8 J ohn xix. 25.*Gen. xiii. 8.