"Dad what's a virgin""

[Chestertonian]

so my son and I are hanging out they put a nativity up in my room and my son asks me this

Makes sense really.. It's a word he hears in church and the bible but we haven't had "5the talk" I said we can talk about it later maybe he will forget has snypne else had ro

[LouisIX]

Could you perhaps explain the significance without getting into the details of the conjugal act? For example:

"Do you know how mommies get pregnant with babies when they are married to a daddy? A virgin is someone who isn't married to a daddy. Mary wasn't married but she got pregnant with a baby in a special way because God gave her Jesus without even being married."

[Carleendiane]

Oh boy, let me know how that one turns out. You could tell him a virgin never gets married or has children. Never mind. Then he'll want to know why Mary is called a virgin. Nope, that won't work.

[OCLittleFlower]

Could you perhaps explain the significance without getting into the details of the conjugal act? For example:

"Do you know how mommies get pregnant with babies when they are married to a daddy? A virgin is someone who isn't married to a daddy. Mary wasn't married but she got pregnant with a baby in a special way because God gave her Jesus without even being married."

Kind of works, kind of doesn't -- because when the teenage girl down the street gets knocked up... 

[LouisIX]

Could you perhaps explain the significance without getting into the details of the conjugal act? For example:

"Do you know how mommies get pregnant with babies when they are married to a daddy? A virgin is someone who isn't married to a daddy. Mary wasn't married but she got pregnant with a baby in a special way because God gave her Jesus without even being married."

Kind of works, kind of doesn't -- because when the teenage girl down the street gets knocked up... 

Right, but it gets the relevant religious message across without having to scandalize the child with sexual sin just yet.

[Michael Wilson]

I agree with Louis, the less said about the conjugal act the better; you could just say: A very holy woman totally consecrated to God. This would absolutely be true of Our Lady, without getting into details. Also, we adults often mistake the innocent questions of children for something deeper. I remember my Dad having the talk with me, and I was only about ten years old; I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. I wouldn't know for at least a couple of more years, and by that time I didn't even remember what he had told me. Thinking back  on it latter, I believe I must have asked my Mom some questions that she mistook for my wanting more info on the subject, when really they were just innocent questions.

[MundaCorMeum]

I agree with Louis, the less said about the conjugal act the better; you could just say: A very holy woman totally consecrated to God. This would absolutely be true of Our Lady, without getting into details. Also, we adults often mistake the innocent questions of children for something deeper. I remember my Dad having the talk with me, and I was only about ten years old; I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. I wouldn't know for at least a couple of more years, and by that time I didn't even remember what he had told me. Thinking back  on it latter, I believe I must have asked my Mom some questions that she mistook for my wanting more info on the subject, when really they were just innocent questions.

Indeed.  Always clarify with your child what they are asking.  Less is more 

[OCLittleFlower]

Could you perhaps explain the significance without getting into the details of the conjugal act? For example:

"Do you know how mommies get pregnant with babies when they are married to a daddy? A virgin is someone who isn't married to a daddy. Mary wasn't married but she got pregnant with a baby in a special way because God gave her Jesus without even being married."

Kind of works, kind of doesn't -- because when the teenage girl down the street gets knocked up... 

Right, but it gets the relevant religious message across without having to scandalize the child with sexual sin just yet.

Yeah -- I still think it needs a few tweaks, though, especially if the kid is exposed to people around them who have had babies out of wedlock, etc.

[MundaCorMeum]

Ches, when mine asked the same question, and about what a foster father is (St. Joseph), this is what I told them: normally, mommies and daddies must cooperate in a special way to help God create a new baby.  Our Lady and St. Joseph did not have to do that. A person who never helps God create a baby is called a virgin.  With Our Lady, God just placed the baby Jesus in her womb (tummy), without her having to do anything to help him.  It was a miracle....something only God can do.  He did it that way to prove that He is who He says He is - God - and that Jesus is truly His Son. He did ask Our Lady's permission, though.  A foster father is a man who helps to raise a child as if it was his own, but he didn't help to create the child - St. Joseph did that with Our Lord.

[OCLittleFlower]

Ches, when mine asked the same question, and about what a foster father is (St. Joseph), this is what I told them: normally, mommies and daddies must cooperate in a special way to help God create a new baby.  Our Lady and St. Joseph did not have to do that. A person who never helps God create a baby is called a virgin.  With Our Lady, God just placed the baby Jesus in her womb (tummy), without her having to do anything to help him.  It was a miracle....something only God can do.  He did it that way to prove that He is who He says He is - God - and that Jesus is truly His Son. He did ask Our Lady's permission, though.  A foster father is a man who helps to raise a child as if it was his own, but he didn't help to create the child - St. Joseph did that with Our Lord.

Excellent explanation.

[verenaerin]

I would just say a virgin is someone who isn't married. In the case of the Holy Family, I would just say they are called virgins because they are special. That would be my response to my 5 yo.

[percival]

''A virgin is a person who has not yet joined in marriage with another person, and had a baby. However, sometimes people lose their virginity outside of marriage, and some even lose it without having a baby at all. Because this takes all kind of measures, those people don't have it quite right, they don't get the whole thing, so anyone who isn't married, save for some.'' Or something like that

[John Lamb]

Someone who devotes their whole body to God.

[MundaCorMeum]

Someone who devotes their whole body to God.

Married couples do this as well, though.  They dedicate their bodies to God's specific will for them in creating and forming souls for The Kingdom.  It's not as high of calling as virginity in the religious life, true, but they are giving their very selves in service to God by sharing in His creative power.  Every time any person subdues his inordinate desires and obey God's will, instead of his own, that person is giving his body to God.