“We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was born of a Virgin named Mary. But what is a virgin, what does it mean to be born, and what is a proper name these things we do not believe; rather, we know them. Whether Mary’s face was just as we imagine it when we speak of these things or recall them, we neither know nor believe. Therefore it is licit to say, without endangering the faith, “Perhaps she had a face like this, perhaps it was different.” But no one could say, “Perhaps Christ was born of a virgin” without endangering the Christian faith.”
Augustine of Hippo, De Trinitate 8, 5, 7; PL 42, 952; CCL so, 276-77
If you are interested in more quotes on Virgin Mary, you can find them in Mary and the Fathers of the Church on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats.
References:
Gambero, L., 1999. Mary and the Fathers of the Church 1st ed. Translated by Buffer, T., San Francisco: Ignatius Press.
