Parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus
Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Posterity of the race of Adam spread out in great number, the just and the unjust were multiplied. The clamors of the just for the coming of the Redeemer increased. In this time of the ancient laws God sent two bright luminaries to announce the approaching dawn of the Son of Justice, Christ our salvation. These were Saint Joachim and Saint Anne.
Anne’s parents were Eliud and Ismeria. At the age of four Anne went to live in the temple, remaining there for twelve years, returning to her parents at age 16. One year later as her mother lay dying, she called Anne to her bedside and left her as the future mistress of the household and told her she must marry as she was a vessel of the promise. Saint Joachim had his home, family and relations in Nazareth, a town of Galilee. He was a just and holy man and illumined by special grace and light from on high, had a knowledge of many mysteries of the holy scriptures and of the olden prophets. In continual and fervent prayer, he asked God the fulfillment of his promises and his faith and charity penetrated the heavens. He was a man most humble and pure leading a holy and sincere life, yet he was most grave and earnest and incomparably modest and honest. He was of the line of David.
Anne was 18 when she married Joachim and they lived in her father’s home for seven years. Upon withdrawing from the paternal house their design was to live in privacy, to begin their married life anew. In sincerity they practiced all virtues and were pleasing to God. Each year they divided the income and rents of their estate into three parts, the first part was given to the temple for the worship of the Lord, the second was distributed to the poor and the third, they retained for themselves. This amount was always replenished the next year. In spite of their wealth, they lived frugally. Anne often ate nothing but cold victuals but treated her domestics generously.
One night an angel appeared to Joachim and commanded him to go to the temple. When he arrived at the Temple the angel spoke: “Anne will conceive an immaculate child from whom the redeemer of the world will be born.” At the moment of conception, Anne and Joachim gave to Mary the flesh and blood which they had received from their forebearers in the line of David. Mary was Immaculate at conception and in consequence her parents were the ministers of God in accomplishing a work which will remain unique in the history of the world.
They lived for 20 years after the birth of their first daughter yet always accepting their crosses and enduring the pain in a spirit of patience and prayer. They needed this long purification to be judged worthy of giving birth to the Immaculate Conception to her who, at the very moment she began life was already more pure and holy than the brightest of seraphim.
St Joachim died soon after witnessing the presentation of Jesus in the temple. St Anne lived until Jesus was 8 years old and was 56 years old. She died in the arms of her most beloved daughter Immaculate Mary. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph assisted at her death. We celebrate Saint Anne’s feast day July 26. The tomb of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim was rediscovered in Jerusalem in 1889.
Today let’s remember Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the holy couple that published the mercy of God.
Heaven is our goal.
Sources: Patron Saints – St. Anne Catholic Church (stanneparish.org)