Mary's virginity is usually understood as untouched by man, a reflection of Mary's perplexed question to the Angel Gabriel, "'How can this be, since I have no relations with man?'" (Lk 1:34) While this is true, the mystery of her virginity is a much deeper reality.
Thomas Philippe, O.P. sees the virginity of Mary as the mystery of interiority. This is a quality of love which comes from Infinite love itself. The loving relationships between Father, Son and Sprit are interior. In the Trinity community of love means that they totally and completely live in each other. So the source and prototype of Virginity is the unity of God itself. (Ibid., pp. 40-41)
Ignacio Larrañaga, O.F.M. expresses the mystery from a human viewpoint thus: "Virginity is silence. The heart of a virgin is essentially a solitary heart. Human emotions of the affective-sexual order, which are of themselves explosive, remain silent; in the virginal heart, everything is calm, in peace, like an extinguished flame. It is not suppressed nor repressed, it is under control. ... When the true and living God occupies the virginal heart, vitally and completely, there is no need of complementary because the heart is completely occupied and fulfilled." (Igancio Larrañaga, The Silence of Mary, St. Paul Book & Media, Boston, MA, pp. 110-111)
Mary's virginal love revealed itself also in her externals, in her quiet reserve. She did not indulge in unnecessary conversation. Her walk and composure must have revealed her inner docility and purity of heart. She did not question the designs of God in her life. When Simeon told her that a sword would pierce her heart, she did not ask him what it meant but pondered this event in her heart.
 Virgin Full of Grace
Virgin, full of grace, purest of our race, |
Mary, plead for us, intercede for us; |
Mystic Wonder