Brethren of the Lord

Non-Catholics sometimes ask why Catholics believe in the perpetual virginity of our Blessed Mother when the Scriptures clearly speak about the “brothers of the Lord” and mention them by name (James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude).

What they won’t speak about is the fact that these so-called “brothers” were probably cousins or some other kinsfolk of Jesus because there was no term for the word “cousin” in the Aramaic language that our Lord spoke.  In the Old Testament, there are many examples of this:

In Gen. 14:14, Lot is called Abraham’s "brother", even though he was the son of Haran, Abraham’s brother (Gen. 11:26–28). 

In Gen. 29:15, Jacob is referred to as the "brother" of his uncle Laban.

Brothers Kish and Eleazar were the sons of Mahli.  Kish had sons of his own, but Eleazar’s daughters married their "brethren," the sons of Kish - who were actually their cousins (1 Chron. 23:21–22).

What do the Scriptures have to say about the women standing at the cross and their children?

Matt. 27:56 says, "among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee".

Mark 15:40 states, "There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome").

Finally, John 19:25 tells us, "But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene".

A comparison of these accounts of the crucifixion shows the mother of James and Joseph to be the wife of Clopas (also called, Alphaeus) – not Mary, the Mother of Jesus.