Did the Virgin Mary have children after giving birth to Christ?
“From the very early years of the Church, Mary was called not only Virgin, but Ever-Virgin. She was seen as never having had a sexual union with Joseph before or after the birth of Christ.”
The Church Fathers often cite Ezekiel 44:1-2 as a prophecy of the Ever-Virginity of Mary:
“And the Lord said to me, ‘This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.’”
“The gate mentioned is seen as a picture of Christ’s passage through the door of Mary’s womb.”
“But doesn’t the Bible mention other brothers and sisters of Christ? Who are they and where did they come from? For one thing, they are never directly called the sons and daughters of Mary and Joseph.” In the Semitic language “brother” and “sister” can mean kinsman, cousin or relative. In the Old Testament, Abraham and Lot are called brothers even though Lot is Abraham’s nephew. (Genesis 13:8; 14:14, 16). Joseph is a widower. They are children of Joseph and Joseph’s first wife. For 2,000 years the Church as always taught that Mary and Joseph had no sexual union before or after the birth of Christ. The gate is shut. The Lord God of Israel has entered by it.
(Citations from Peter Gillquist, Facing Up to Mary.)
