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De Virginitate B. Mariae

11.

Helvidii ultima propositio.—Extrema propositio fuit (licet id ipsum in primogenito voluerit ostendere), fratres Domini in Evangeliis nominari, ut ibi: Ecce mater ejus et fratres ejus stabant foris, quaerentes loqui cum eo (Luc. VIII, 20). Et alibi: Post haec descendit Capharnaum, ipse et mater ejus, et fratres ejus (Joan. II, 12). Et ibi: Dixerunt ergo fratres ejus ad eum: Transi hinc, et vade in Judaeam, ut et discipuli tui videant opera tua quae facis. Nemo enim aliquid in occulto faciens, quaerit ipse in palam esse. Si haec facis, manifesta teipsum mundo (Joan. VII, 3, 4). Joanne desuper inferente: Neque enim fratres ejus tunc credebant in eum (Ibid. 5). Item Marcus et Matthaeus: Et docebat eos in synagoga eorum in patria sua, ita ut stuperent, et dicerent: Unde huic omnis haec sapientia et virtutes? Nonne hic est fabri filius? nonne mater ejus dicitur Maria, et fratres ejus Jacobus et Joseph, et Simon et Judas, et sorores ejus omnes apud nos sunt (Marc. XIII, 5; V, 24)? Lucas quoque in Actibus Apostolorum ita refert: Hi omnes erant instantes unanimes in oratione cum mulieribus et Maria matre Jesu, et fratribus ipsius (Act. I, 14). Necnon et Paulus Apostolus in eadem historiae veritate pari voce concordat: Ascendi autem secundum revelationem, et neminem vidi, nisi Petrum et Jacobum fratrem Domini (Galat. II, 2). Et rursum in alio loco: Numquid non habemus potestatem manducandi et bibendi? Numquid non habemus potestatem uxores circumducendi, sicut et caeteri Apostoli, et fratres Domini, et Cephas (I Cor. IX, 4, 5)? Et ne forte aliquis Judaeorum testimonium non admitteret, qui etiam nomina fratrum illius ediderunt, simili eos asserens [Al. asseris] in fratribus errore deceptos, quo "in patre aestimando sunt lapsi, argute praecavit, et ait: Haec eadem vocabula ab Evangelistis in alio loco nominari, et eosdem esse fratres Domini, filios Mariae." Matthaeus loquitur: Erant autem ibi (haud dubium quin ante crucem Domini) et mulieres multae a longe spectantes, quae secutae fuerant Jesum a Galilaea, ministrantes illi. Inter quas erant Maria Magdalene, et Maria Jacobi, et Joseph mater, et mater filiorum Zebedaei (Matth. XXVII, 55, 56). Item Marcus: Erant autem et mulieres a longe aspicientes, inter quas erant Maria Magdalene, et Maria Jacobi minoris, et Joseph mater, et Salome (Marc. XV, 40): ibique post modicum: Et aliae multae quae ascenderant cum eo in Jerusalem. Necnon et Lucas: Erant autem Maria Magdalene et Joanna, et Maria Jacobi, et caeterae cum eis (Luc. ult. 10).

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The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary

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The last proposition of Helvidius was this, and it is what he wished to show when he treated of the first-born, that brethren of the Lord are mentioned in the Gospels. For example, ¹“Behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.” And elsewhere, ²“After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren.” And again, ³“His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judæa, that thy disciples also may behold the works which thou doest. For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world.” And John adds, ⁴“For even his brethren did not believe on him.” Mark also and Matthew, ⁵“And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogues, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us?” Luke also in the Acts of the Apostles relates, ⁶“These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” Paul the Apostle also is at one with them, and witnesses to their historical accuracy, ⁷“And I went up by revelation, but other of the apostles saw I none, save Peter and James the Lord’s brother.” And again in another place, ⁸“Have we no right to eat and drink? Have we no right to lead about wives even as the rest of the Apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?” And for fear any one should not allow the evidence of the Jews, since it was they from whose mouth we hear the name of His brothers, but should maintain that His countrymen were deceived by the same error in respect of the brothers into which they fell in their belief about the father, Helvidius utters a sharp note of warning and cries, “The same names are repeated by the Evangelists in another place, and the same persons are there brethren of the Lord and sons of Mary.” Matthew says, ⁹“And many women were there (doubtless at the Lord’s cross) beholding from afar, which had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.” Mark also, ¹⁰“And there were also women beholding from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome”; and in the same place shortly after, “And many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.” Luke too, ¹¹“Now there were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them.”