If Mary was not a virgin, there would be a lot of doubt about the Immaculate Conception. For Mary to remain a virgin means there were no siblings. This means the focus remains on Jesus. Imagine how the dynamics of the Bible would possibly be altered if Mary had loose morals or other children. There would be no miracle of the Immaculate Conception, which means Jesus would not have been viewed as the Son of God. The churches would not have much of a congregation.
Forgive me, but I think (if I am not mistaken) that there is confusion here abou the Immaculate Conception.
Mary, is the Immaculate Conception, not Jesus. When mary appeared to Bernadette at Lourdes, and Bernadette asked her who she was, mary replied "I am the Immaculate Conception". But many take this to mean that she was a virgin. This is a mistake. It doesn't mean she was a virgin. It means she was born without Original Sin.
The First Catholic Council of Rome, decided in about 400AD that Christ was not only the Son of God, but that he WAS God, and that he should henceforth be regarded as the saviour of the World, God Incarnate, come to earth as Man, born of a woman.
But hold on... Sex was regarded as a sin. Yes indeedy, to fornicate was regarded as being a sin, so it was that all of mankind is born with original Sin, because that's how humans are made. So every human being is already equipped with Sin.
But that would be impossible for jesus, wouldn't it?
So they decided that his Mother (the word translated into 'Virgin' from ancient texts actually just means 'Young Woman') also had to be free of sin. I mean, it stands to reason, doesn't it? How can Jesus be born of original Sin? So they decided, in 460AD that, not only had Mary been born free of Original Sin, but that she had also never "known" a Man!
However, Jesus DID have siblings, because they are mentioned later in the Bible and referred to by him.
Immaculate conception. see here...
Did jesus have siblings? See here...
I can speak with some authority, because I have had a very close connection with Catholicism throughout my life. And what an experience THAT was - !!
