Marys virginity

Question from Nancy Anne on 9/29/2007:

Hello - I heard a priest on EWTN say that Mary did not experience labor pain during Jesus's birth because she was conceived without sin. Women inherited the pain of childbirth because of the fall of Adam and Eve and original sin. Is there scripture evidence of this? Your thoughts. Thank you. Nancy Malo

Answer by Fr. John Echert on 9/30/2007:

Mary is the one exception, for the pain of childbirth was a direct consequence of the Original Sin, from which Mary alone was protected. Mary is the New Eve, just as her Son is the New Adam. As such, they did not suffer directly from some of the consequences of Original Sin, including concupiscience (an inclination to sin) or the pain of giving birth. The Church teaches that Mary conceived as Virgin, gave birth as Virgin, and remains ever Virgin. The analogy from Augustine is that as our Lord came forth from the Tomb without the stone rolled away, so He had come forth from the Womb of Mary, with her virginity intact.

Thanks, Nancy

Father Echert