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Gerrard,
There are a few reasons.
One, there is an ancient tradition, the earliest proof for which we have: the Infancy Gospel of James), which goes back to the second century and says that Mary was consecrated to virginity for God and was given to St. Joseph, an older man who had already had a family, to protect and provide for her. This is consistent with Joseph's disappearance from the Gospels before Jesus's ministry begins, and Jesus entrusts his mother to the beloved disciple, indicating that Joseph had already passed on. This document is not infallible though, and not part of Scripture, consequently, it could be wrong.
Another potential explanation is from reason, and is twofold:
- One, Mary's womb was consecrated (set apart) for God who became incarnate in it, and things that are set apart for God are not to be used for common use.
- Two, Mary was the Ark of the New Covenant. ChatGPT articulates the salient points:
The concept of Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant is a theological interpretation found in Christian thought, particularly within Catholic and Orthodox traditions. This analogy is not explicitly stated in Scripture but is inferred through typology—a method of interpretation where an element found in the Old Testament is seen as a foreshadowing or figure of a New Testament reality. Here are the key scriptural parallels drawn to support the idea of Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant:
- The Ark of the Covenant's Role and Mary's Role: The Ark of the Covenant was the sacred chest where the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron, and manna were kept. These items signified God's presence and covenant with Israel. Mary is considered the Ark of the New Covenant because she bore Jesus Christ in her womb, who is viewed as the fulfillment of God’s law and covenant (Hebrews 9:4).
- Luke 1:35 and the Presence of God: The angel Gabriel tells Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God." The Greek word for "overshadow" (ἐπισκιάζω, episkiazō) is the same word used in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) to describe the presence of God overshadowing the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 40:35). This parallel is seen as signifying Mary as the new dwelling place of God’s presence.
- Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth and the Ark’s Journey: In Luke 1:39-56, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth shortly after the Annunciation. Elizabeth's greeting to Mary includes the phrase, "Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" which mirrors 2 Samuel 6:9 when King David says, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" during the transportation of the Ark to Jerusalem. Additionally, Mary stays with Elizabeth for three months, paralleling the Ark's three months in the house of Obed-edom before being brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:11).
- The Blessedness of Mary and the Ark: The Ark of the Covenant was considered the most holy and revered object in ancient Israel, where God’s presence was most manifest. In Luke 1:42, Elizabeth calls Mary "blessed among women," a declaration of Mary's unique role and sanctity, echoing the reverence shown to the Ark.
- Revelation 11:19—12:1: At the end of Revelation 11, the temple of God is opened in heaven, and the ark of his covenant is seen within his temple. Immediately following this, Revelation 12 describes a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Though the woman in chapter 12 is often interpreted as representing Israel or the Church, some see her as a figure of Mary, linked with the ark mentioned just before her appearance.
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Through these scriptural connections, Mary's role as the Ark of the New Covenant is seen as both a fulfillment and a personification of the divine presence and promise, highlighting her unique and sanctified role in Christian theology.
I might add that the Ark contained the Ten Commandments (i.e. the Word of God), and Jesus was the Word of God, and it contained the manna, and Jesus is the New Manna (cf. John 6:49-50).
If Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, then Joseph would not want to violate her, as those who touched the Ark in a way God did not permit, did not survive. (See 2 Samuel 6:1-7)
Eric
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