I just watch the Saint James episode and it makes a compelling case that James was Jesus' actually brother. It also says Mary wasn't a virgin or didn't stay a vigin. That per the bible Jesus had brothers and sisters. It did admit the church claims they were cousins or from another Mary Joseph may have been with before the VM. Personally I'll stick with my core believe which aligns with the church but curious what others may think or believe?
I do not watch the so called biographies of Jesus, Mary or any religious matters on mainstream channels any more. They only seek to confuse and confound the truth. I trust the Church because they have preserved the history of our Faith. Trust in God and when you get confused know that only comes from one place. I used to watch that show for a while "Long Island Medium". This woman is supposedly Catholic and communicates with souls from the 'other' world. I saw how much comfort she brought to those who have lost loved ones and I thought maybe she does have a gift from God. But then something was wrong that everyone was always happy in the next life even if they didn't live a good life. She never speaks of anyone suffering or damned. So I was confused initially now I know whoever is telling her things is not of God. Just my 2 cents! God Bless!
I went to a preist with this question before and the answer he gave me was this. He said there is to explanations to this questions one that James was the son to another mother named Mary that was at the crucifixion of Christ as well. The second was that Joseph had other kids and mary was there stepmother. The second answer I thought sounded weird but the preist said he had faith it was answer one!
In the Gospels we find that there are 2 Apostles by the name of James and due to this, Matthew, Mark and Luke are at pains to explain which one they are refering to. So they distinguish them by referencing their familys (mainly their father, but also at times their mothers are mentioned) St Jude and St James the less, are sometimes referenced as (adelphoi of Jesus) which can mean either cousin or brother. St Jude and St James the less, are related to Jesus most probably cousins or 2nd cousins . The Hebrew language does not contain a word that means “cousin.” Instead, the word “brother” is used for both, the words “brother” and “cousin.” When the Jewish scholars translated the early Church writings from Hebrew to Greek, they literally translated the word “brother” as “brother.” Since they were accustomed to the word that could mean either “brother” or “cousin,” they did not believe that it was necessary to define when it means “brother” or when it means “cousin.” Therefore, in instance where a reference might be made to a cousin of Jesus, the word “brother” was applied. While this person may have been a blood relative, he was not a biological brother. Now, let us review the claim that James was the brother of Jesus. In Mark 15:40, we read, “There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.” It is clear from this verse that Mary, the mother of James and Joses was not Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Bible makes reference to more than one Mary. But apparantly this confuses many protestants. James, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John is also called James the Greater or James the Great to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus or James the Just. The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him (In Matthew). James and his brother wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town, but were rebuked by Jesus (In Luke). The Acts of the Apostles records that "Herod the king" (traditionally identified with Herod Agrippa) had James executed by sword. He is the only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament. He is, thus, traditionally believed to be the first of the twelve apostles martyred for his faith.(Acts12:1-2) It has been suggested that this may have been caused by James' fiery temper, for which he and his brother earned the nickname Boanerges or "Sons of Thunder".(Mark 3:17) James, son of Alphaeus appearing under this name in all three of the Synoptic Gospels' lists of the apostles. He is often identified as James the Less and commonly known by that name in church tradition. He is also labelled "the minor", "the little", "the lesser", or "the younger", according to translation. He is distinct from James, son of Zebedee. Since there was already another James (James, son of Zebedee) among the twelve apostles, equating James son of Alphaeus with "James the Less" made sense. (James son of Zebedee was sometimes called "James the Greater"). Possible brother of Matthew Alphaeus is also the name of the father of the publican Levi mentioned in Mark 2:14. The publican appears as Matthew in Matthew 9:9, which has led some to conclude that James and Matthew might have been brothers. The four times that James son of Alphaeus is mentioned directly in the Bible (each time in the list of the Apostles) the only family relationship stated is that his father is Alphaeus. In two lists of the Apostles, the other James and John are listed as brothers and that their father is Zebedee Calling of James, Son of Alphaeus Mark the Evangelist is the earliest known source in the bible to mention "James, son of Alphaeus" as one of the twelve Apostles. At the beginning of Jesus' ministry he first calls Peter and his brother Andrew and asks them to follow him Mark 1:16-17. In the next verses it tells the story of how James the Greater and his brother John the Apostle came to follow Jesus Mark 1:19-20. After some healing by Jesus he meets Levi son of Alphaeus who was a tax collector and he then asks Levi (better known as Matthew) to follow him Mark 2:14Matthew 9:9. Peter, Andrew, James the Greater and John the Apostle are listed as Apostles Mark 3:16-19. Levi, son of Alphaeus is listed as an Apostle under the name of Matthew, but James is listed as the son of Alphaeus Mark 3:16-19. And Finally As a consequence of the doctrine of perpetual virginity, St Jerome proposed that James, son of Alphaeus, was to be identified with "James, the brother of the Lord" (Gal.1:19) and that the term "brother" was to be understood as "cousin". The above makes perfect sense to me so I don't understand why protestants have such a problem with it. May the Good Lord enlighten all Christians to the fullness of truth. Mary mother and helper of Christians. Pray for us.
How Jesus Christ must suffer when men insult His Blessed Mother. We call her the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please do not even repeat what these retrobates say about the Blessed Mother on this forum concerning her virginity. There are 4 dogmas concerning Mary that all Catholics must believe - Mother of God Her Perpetual Virginity Immaculate Conception Assumption We await a fifth one - Mediatrix of All Graces which I believe will happen when Russia is consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Blessed are you Josephite! very well said. Many Protestants twist the scriptures, If they would read Early Church Fathers Protestism would cease to exist..Cardinal Nueman, Anglican convert to Rome said as much. One Father that comes to mind St John Chrysostum.Greek father from 3rd century hailed Mary as Perpetual Virgin. 2 Peter 3:16 There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
Another reason we know these "brothers" aren't true siblings is because in Mt 13:55 (cf. Mk 6:3) we see that the brothers referenced in Lk 8 and Jn 7 are "James and Joseph and Simon and Judas". But, scripture tells us that at least two of them are actually Jesus' cousins: Jn 19:25 says that "Mary, the wife of Clopas" is the Blessed Mother's sister. "Mary, the wife of Clopas" is the "other mary" who went to the sepulcher with Mary Magdalene This "other mary" is also the mother of James and Joseph (Mt 27:56,61; 28:1; Mk 15:47). So, this would make James and Joseph the cousins of Jesus, even tho Mt 13:55 and Mk 6:3 say that they are Jesus' "brothers."
Thanks for taking the time to respond to this. I certainly didn't believe either was true but didn't have a proper explaination to counter them. Awesome, wise words.
I tried to watch this show once and was disgusted by it so turned it off. I did however watch a show recently on Discovery Family I think called the Bible Explained. It was about Sodom and Gomorrah and was very fascinating. I wish all skeptics would watch, because it would make a believer out of them, because the science, and proof is out there and the real proof was only recently discovered in an old church I think in 2010. Very fascinating show if you ever come across it. Another thought that popped into my head on this was from one of Father John Riccardo's broadcast. He said no matter what you believe, Jesus is the most fascinating person in all of history because he is either the Lord, a liar or a lunatic. We know he can't be a lunatic because he would have never been executed if he was just a crazy man. He had to be a threat to be executed so the Sanhedrin claimed Him to be a liar. I will stick to Him being the Lord!!
Yes I remember reading in either the poem of the God man, by Maria Valtorta or another writing attibuted I think to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich some very interesting revelations regarding this other Mary. From memory I think this other Mary was the Blessed Virgin Mary's older sister and interestingly it is claimed in these writtings that both St Ann and St Joachim had been given knowledge by God that they were to concieve of the most beautiful creature of God and to name her Mary but they jumped the gun and named their first daughter Mary. However God had to prepare them spiritually before the time of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a lot of mystical things needed to take place before the time of Our Lady's Immaculate conception. Its beautiful to think that Our Lord, Our God had Grandparents, an Aunt and cousins that assisted and loved our Lord Jesus, the Word made flesh, while He lived here as one of us.
