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Catechism of the Catholic Church
 False. Para. 498: People are sometimes troubled by the silence of St. Mark's Gospel and the New Testament Epistles about Jesus' virginal conception. Some might wonder if we were merely dealing with legends or theological constructs not claiming to be history. To this we must respond: Faith in the virginal conception of Jesus met with the lively opposition, mockery, or incomprehension of non-believers, Jews and pagans alike (Cf. St. Justin, Dial., 99, 7: PG 6, 708-709; Origen, Contra Celsum 1, 32, 69: PG 11, 720-721; et al); so it could hardly have been motivated by pagan mythology or by some adaption to the ideas of the age. The meaning of this event is accessible only to faith, which understands it in the "connection of these mysteries with one another" (Dei Filius 4: DS 3016) in the totality of Christ's mysteries, from his Incarnation to his Passover. St. Ignatius of Antioch already bears witness to this connection: "Mary's virginity and giving birth, and even the Lord's death escaped the notice of the prince of this world: these three mysteries worthy of proclamation were accomplished in God's silence" (St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Eph. 19, 1: AF II/2, 76-80; SCh 10, 88; cf. 1 Cor. 2:8).
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