A concerned, even emphatic interviewer and a girl forced into marriage – what a terribly instructive conversation!
The Blessed Virgin Mary was "matched" by the priests of the Temple to St. Joseph when she was approximately fourteen years of age. This is perfectly in accord with Divine Natural Law. This was the most common practice of marriage until the modern feminist era.
brhenry Don't ever compare The Blessed Mother with anyone. Let alone this sweet girl. The Blessed Mother's role was to be the mother of GOD. And only the Mother of GOD!!!! She was raised in a temple from 3 years old. Preparing for this great gift from GOD.
And just in case you forgot one very important thing. The most important thing of all.
SHE MADE A VOW OF VIRGINITY!!!! AND SHE DID NOT LAY WITH HER HUSBAND WHO WAS CHOSEN BY GOD "ONLY" TO CARE AND PROTECT HER AND HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. JUST AS SHE WAS MADE TO CARE AND TEACH AND LOVE HER SON. AND WHY SHE WAS RAISED IN THE TEMPLE IN THE FIRST PLACE!
So much for your natural law.
From birth till death she was a VIRGIN! Untouched by any man. INCLUDING SAINT JOSEPH!
GET THAT STRAIGHT WITH YOUR NATURAL LAW.
She was The Ark of The New Covenant. Not just any girl. Not just any woman. And why she is called THE MOST PURE VIRGIN MOTHER.
Perpetual Virginity was not the subject. Modern feminist liberation of daughters to find and choose their own husband violates Divine Natural Law. In this respect, Islam is more "Catholic" than the feminist West. Furthermore, the beautiful titles of Our Lady as "Mother Inviolate" and "Mother Undefiled" shows clearly that there is a definite "violation" and "defilenent" in every loss of virginity and natural motherhood. All Catholic fathers should desire to consecrate their virgin daughters to the LORD (as did Sts Jiachim & Ann) in a convent, pure, unviolated and undefiled as Our Lady.
What are you talking about? Marriage is Holy! So there is no such thing as being violated. We are all called for a specific life. Some are called to be a religious. Some for parenthood. Some as Doctors, inventors, nurses educators etc. Christ instituted Marriage and Blessed it an Cana! How can it be a violation? And defiled? Where do you get these ridiculous ideas from?
You also didn't catch the full meaning of the conversation did you? They "prevented" her from her education to take away her voice. Sounds like control and manipulation to me. Forcing such a young girl into a marriage of a stranger who is much older than she is down right evil. Forcing is not what the Catholic Church teaches. Now is it? They now made her a slave at their bidding. Not just the fake husband but his family as well. And you say, it's natural law?
Islam is more Catholic? The only thing close to being Catholic is the poor girls stay at home and have to care for the home and children They treat their poor little girls as their play toys to do what they want to them. Making them their slave. Beating them if they say no. Beating them for anything they don't like. Can't speak, can't think. Can't do. Sounds like something from hell to me.
I also believe it meant that no man touched her BEFORE marriage. Now that would be a violation and she becomes defiled.