title: The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary
text: # The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary
  
  The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary (Latin: De perpetua virginitate beatae Mariae adversus Helvidium) is an apologetic work of Saint Jerome (c. AD 342/7–420). It is an answer to Helvidius.
  
  Helvidius was the author of a work written about the year 383 against the belief in the perpetual virginity of Mary (the mother of Jesus).
  
  Saint Jerome maintains against Helvidius three propositions:
  
  * That Joseph was only putatively, not really, the husband of Mary.
  * That the "brothers" of the Lord were his cousins, not his own brothers.
  * That virginity is better than the married state.
  