The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary
# 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.
