Chotard Doll

Friends,

Today we celebrate James, the brother of the Lord, who was a leader of the early church in Jerusalem. He was stoned or perhaps clubbed to death in 62 AD.

Much energy has been devoted to proclaiming the virginity of Mary, which would preclude the existence of brothers, although several are mentioned in Matthew 13:53-35.

In the early church, the doctrine of Mary’s virginity reinforced the understanding that Jesus was both human and divine. And it became a symbol of the spiritual dedication of this young woman, willing to be a vessel of God.

Although virginity may enhance the self-sacrificing nature of Mary, it is also true that God created us to live in companionship, and that marriage is a sacrament, considered a holy union between two persons.

Those who choose to accept the maternal, sexual nature of Mary, see her as no less holy, no less an example of one who responds to the call of God with all her being. “Here I am, a servant of the Lord.”

In that respect she is an example to us all.

Faithfully,

—Chotard