On The Perpetual Virginity of Mary
John Michael Talbot

The earliest tradition of the eastern Church indicates that Mary had taken a vow of virginity, so was taken into the home of Joseph, an elderly widower with children from his first marriage, in order to save her the Jewish disgrace of being unwed.

According to this teaching the brothers and sisters were half brothers and sisters. In the Christian west St. Jerome said that they were cousins, through Alphaeus and Mary, who are also considered brothers and sisters in Jewish custom. There is only one voice in Christian history to Jesus having brothers and sisters through children of Joseph and Mary. This is by Helvidus, and it was universally rejected by all as being inconsistent with the apostolic teaching that was handed down from the Apostles through their legitimate successors.

Though the two earliest traditions do not agree as to specifics, they are agreed that Mary was a Virgin all her life. This is not theologically necessary, but, as the ancient saying goes, it is most appropriate, therefore cannot be unlikely. It was universally held to by all great, and reputable theologians of the early Church. Evidence to the contrary is virtually absent from early Church records.

John Michael Talbot