Especially for me because it places yet another wrinkle in the semper virgo controversy.
Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.
Well, Mike,
semper virgo did cross my mind when reading the opening post of this topic.
But I must say that to use this to assert that the Blessed Virgin is not Ever Virgin sounds suspiciously like, "Because if they didn't engage in 'marital relations,' then they were living a lie."
But they weren't living a lie. Joseph cared for Mary and her child, protecting them from harm, helping raise Jesus in wisdom and stature, making a home for and with them. That is what a husband does when he takes a woman to be his wife. Whether she is ever virgin or not.
Pax, Steven+