The Catholic dogma on the perpetual virginity of Mary comes from the proto gospel of James. In 500 AD Pope Gelasius I issued the Gelasian Decree. In this decree the pope listed the writings that are accepted as the Biblical Canon followed by list of writings that are not accepted. Pope Gelasius wrote;
“The remaining writings which have been compiled or been recognised by heretics or schismatics the Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church does not in any way receive; of these we have thought it right to cite below a few which have been handed down and which are to be avoided by catholics:”
Among the list is the proto gospel of James. My question is, did a later pope rescind (if that’s the correct term) or change the list so that the gospel of James was accepted?
No. But ideas derived from it did continue to have currency (e.g., the story it tells of how Mary and Joseph came it be betrothed is still commonly accepted among Catholics).
Aquinas for example attacks the proto evangelium of James as ravings even in the middle of defending Mary’s perpetual virginity.
It is perplexing how much influence it had even while it was rejected.
wbhiggins said
I am a first timer to the forum and am trying to figure out how this works. Is there anyone on here that knows Catholic Church history? I have a question about the Protoevangelium of James and Pope Gelasius I.
protoevangelium is highly respectable in orthodox, and I myself see nothing disputable in that text; I think Catholics think the same, so you can read it without any doubt or hesitation
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