Eve and the Perpetual Virginity of Mary

[goldenchild17]

If Mary is the New Eve, then why do Catholics sometimes use Eve to explain Mary's perpetual virginity? Sure they were both virgins(Eve probably was) when they took part, one in the fall and one in our redemption. But Eve later went on to have children... I'm confused.

[Guest Aluigi]

we use her as the new Eve to prove her sinlessness.

the ark of the covenant will do nicely to explain her perpetual virginity. no one enters through where the lord enters the world, and no one dares even touch the ark of the old covenant let alone the new one!

[goldenchild17]

Okay, so Mary being the New Eve teaches nothing about her virginity?

[ForHimAlone]

When referring to Mary as the New Eve, I think it points more to the Immaculate Conception than the Perpetual Virginity. Both Eve and Mary were born without the stain of original sin. Mary said "Yes" to the Lord where Eve said "No," therefore giving Mary a very important role in the redemption of humans.

[phatcatholic]

the image of Mary as New Eve also points to Mary's role in our salvation. Mary is the antithesis of Eve.

--Eve, a woman born w/o sin, would listen to the evil angel (satan) and give to Adam the fruit which he would accept and thus bring sin into the world
--Mary, a woman born w/o sin, would listen to the holy angel (gabriel) and give to God his flesh, which he would accept and thus bring salvation into the world.

--Adam is the direct cause of introducing sin into the world, while Eve played a subordinate role
--Jesus is the direct cause of salvation for the world, while Mary played a subordinate role.

Mary is the "antithesis" of Eve b/c she was in a position like that of Eve, yet she reversed what the first woman had done. Where Eve disobeyed, Mary obeyed and was thus able to counteract this first act of disobedience.

it is all quite profound. i suggest the following articles:

[u][i]The New Eve[/i][/u]
--[url="http://home.nyc.rr.com/mysticalrose/marian1.html"]Mary as the New Eve[/url]
--[url="http://www.cin.org/users/james/questions/q105.htm"][b]Genesis 3:15 [/b]and Mary[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholicapologetics.net/gen315.htm"]The Apparent "He" or "She" Contradiction of [b]Gen. 3:15[/b][/url]
--[url="http://www.lumengentleman.com/content.asp?id=47"][b]Gen. 3:15[/b] and The Woman: Who Shall Crush? [/url]
--[url="http://www.rosary-center.org/ll50n6.htm"]The Immaculate Conception: Satan's Mighty Foe[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=5673"]Mary, the New Eve, Freely Obeyed God[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0312sbs.asp"]How Can You Say That Mary Is the ‘New Eve’?[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholic.net/Catholic Church/Periodicals/Faith/0506-96/article9.html"]Mary, New Eve[/url]
[u][i]Jesus' Sole Mediatorship[/i][/u]
--[url="http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ349.HTM"]Does Mary's Role as Mediatrix Contradict Jesus as the Sole Mediator?[/url]
--[url="http://www.cin.org/users/james/questions/q062.htm"]Christ the One Mediator and Mary's Intercession[/url]
--[url="http://www.cin.org/users/james/questions/q055.htm"]A Closer Look at [b]1 Tim 2:5[/b][/url]
--[url="http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/a17.htm"]Mary's Role in the Redemption[/url]
--[url="http://cuf.org/nonmemb/maryrole.pdf"]Mary's Role in Our Salvation[/url]
--[url="http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/marya3a.htm"]Church Teaching on the Mary's Cooperation in the Redemption of Mankind[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1449"]Mary Cooperates in God's Saving Plan[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=5702"]Mary Has a Role in Jesus' Saving Mission[/url]
--Mary's Cooperation in Redemption: Parts [url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/COREDEMP.TXT"][b]One[/b][/url] and [url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/COOPRED.TXT"][b]Two[/b][/url]
--[url="http://www.voxpopuli.org/faq4.php"]Does Mary Detract from Jesus?[/url]


pax christi,
phatcatholic

[goldenchild17]

Okay, so there really is no link for the perpetual virginity thing? That's basically all I was looking for. Thanks.

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='goldenchild17' date='Dec 24 2004, 01:42 AM'] Okay, so there really is no link for the perpetual virginity thing? That's basically all I was looking for. Thanks. [/quote]
correct. there is no link, as far as i can tell

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Dec 24 2004, 08:41 AM'] correct. there is no link, as far as i can tell [/quote]
Ok, that's all I wanted to know.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='goldenchild17' date='Dec 23 2004, 03:58 PM']If Mary is the New Eve, then why do Catholics sometimes use Eve to explain Mary's perpetual virginity?  Sure they were both virgins(Eve probably was) when they took part, one in the fall and one in our redemption.[/quote]
Everything that Eve did imperfectly, Mary did perfectly. Mary's virginity is the perfection of Eve's, just as Mary's spiritual motherhood is the perfection of Eve's carnal motherhood. Eve was the mother of all the living, and Mary is the mother of all who are made eternally alive in Christ.

[quote name='goldenchild17' date='Dec 23 2004, 03:58 PM']But Eve later went on to have children...  I'm confused.[/quote]
Just as Eve later went on to have children, so too Mary later went on to have children, for she is the spiritual Mother of the sons of God, that is, of all who have been made sons by grace in Christ Jesus. Mary gives birth to the innumerable sons of God, but she does this without the loss of her virginal integrity.


God bless
Todd