When it was told to me, it was also told that the angel was Mary's eternal consort, which would have to be an incarnation of God.

How dare you to suggest that Krsna would offer Radharani to a partial expansion of God?!?! Radharani only consorts with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna himself, not with the expansions!!!*!!!*!!!

I don't see anything wrong with sex as a means to conceive holy children when it is done with and only with ones eternal consort! on the other hand if Mary has no soulmate, and she is chaste, even toward God himself like the manjaris are, then that's another thing. i would like to know. thank you.

The Virgin Birth of Jesus is so well accepted throughout the Judo/Christian world, and indeed other faiths. However, the fact that Mary returned to her original state and stayed that way until death, is not. It is difficult for people to grasp the concept of virginity from birth to death, yet Mary was perpetually virgin. Joseph was her caretaker and protected her chastity, though there would have been no sin had they partaken because they were married.

Mary and Joseph's abstinence is a lesson for all, married or not, to obstain for a greater glory. ha ha--I can hear your ears perk up here, and the argument brewing in your head. More explanation: The Catholic church does teach in natural family planning seminars obstaining for a time brings the married couple closer to each other and God, spiritually and emotionally, so that the physical is a holy joining together when they do intend to partake of that sacrament. This is something many people are not willing to accept, especially in our day and age. A greater respect for each other is obtained. A deeper, more glorious bonding occurs between the couple and God through their denial of self. The marriage becomes more open to love and acceptance of one another. I can only imagine how close Mary and Joseph were, even without the physical joining, they were joined together in so many other ways. Their marriage was heaven on Earth, the way God intends marriage to be for all couples, though the rest of us are required to fulfill our marital vows.

Mary's role is intended to be the New Eve; a woman other women can pattern their life after, and a mother figure for all, generous and loving, tender and warm, forgiving and accepting, and denial of self for the greater good. She is a leader, for did she not tell God himself, her Son, what to do at times? The wedding at Canah, in order to cause the bride and groom no embarrassment for lack of wine. Her role, to teach us that God pays attention to details, and hears us even in the most common petitions.

St. Joseph is to be a role model for Christian men, to protect the chastity of the woman and prevent her from giving herself away before the time, to protect her and provide for her, to guard her, to minister to her and allow her to minister to him. Joseph teaches us a holy respect for women, a deep tenderness that is given a masculine face.

No other faith can teach us how to respect and honor each other as our faith does, through the marriage and perpetual virginity of Mary.