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| Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Virgin Mary |
In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke furnish a legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is the culmination of great promises. Not only is his mother’s family neglected, we also know nothing factual about them except that they existed. Even the names Joachim and Anne come from a legendary source written more than a century after Jesus died.
The strong character of Mary in making decisions, her continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her faith, her steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her relatives—all indicate a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the next generation even while retaining the best of the past.
Joachim and Anne—whether these are their real names or not—represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith and establish an atmosphere for the coming of the Messiah, but remain obscure.
Quotes:
“...[T]he family is the foundation of society. In it the various generations come together and help one another to grow wise and to harmonize personal rights with the other requirements of social life” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 52).
The heroism and holiness of these people, however, is inferred from the whole family atmosphere around Mary in the Scriptures. Whether we rely on the legends about Mary’s childhood or make guesses from the information in the Bible, we see in her a fulfillment of many generations of prayerful persons, herself steeped in the religious traditions of her people.
We get the oldest story from a document called the Gospel ofJames, though in no way should this document be trusted to be factual, historical, of the Word of God. The legend told in this document says that after years of childlessness, an angel appeared to tell Anne and Joachim that they would have a child. Anne (also referred to as Ann or Hannah) promised to dedicate this child to God (much the same way that Samuel was dedicated to Sameal was dedicated by his mother Hannah - Anne - in 1 Kings).
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| Presentation of St. Mary - Denys Calvaert |
The strong character of Mary in making decisions, her continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her faith, her steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her relatives—all indicate a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the next generation even while retaining the best of the past.
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| St. Ann teaching her daughter, the Virgin Mary |
Joachim and Anne—whether these are their real names or not—represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith and establish an atmosphere for the coming of the Messiah, but remain obscure.
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| Joachim and Anne at the Golden Gates - Giotto |
Comment:
July 26 is the “feast of grandparents.” It reminds grandparents of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: They must make the traditions live and offer them as a promise to little children. But the feast has a message for the younger generation as well. It reminds the young that older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience and appreciation of life’s profound rhythms are all part of a wisdom not to be taken lightly or ignored.
July 26 is the “feast of grandparents.” It reminds grandparents of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: They must make the traditions live and offer them as a promise to little children. But the feast has a message for the younger generation as well. It reminds the young that older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience and appreciation of life’s profound rhythms are all part of a wisdom not to be taken lightly or ignored.
Quotes:
“...[T]he family is the foundation of society. In it the various generations come together and help one another to grow wise and to harmonize personal rights with the other requirements of social life” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 52).
"They represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, and practice their faith, but remain obscure." (Saint of the Day: Lives, Lessons and Feasts)
Prayer:
Parents of Mary, pray for all parents that they provide the loving home and faithful teaching that you provided your daughter. Amen
Parents of Mary, pray for all parents that they provide the loving home and faithful teaching that you provided your daughter. Amen
Patron Saints of:
Ann: against poverty; barren; broommakers; cabinetmakers; carpenters; childless couples; equestrians; grandmothers; grandparents; homemakers; housewives; lace makers; lace workers; lost articles; miners; mothers; old-clothes dealers; pregnancy; pregnant women; horse riders; seamstresses; stablemen; sterility; turners; women in labour; Brittany; Canada; France; Quebec; archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan; diocese of Norwich, Connecticut; Santa Ana Indian Pueblo; Taos, New Mexico.
Ann: against poverty; barren; broommakers; cabinetmakers; carpenters; childless couples; equestrians; grandmothers; grandparents; homemakers; housewives; lace makers; lace workers; lost articles; miners; mothers; old-clothes dealers; pregnancy; pregnant women; horse riders; seamstresses; stablemen; sterility; turners; women in labour; Brittany; Canada; France; Quebec; archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan; diocese of Norwich, Connecticut; Santa Ana Indian Pueblo; Taos, New Mexico.
Joachim: fathers, grandfathers, grandparents.
Symbols:
Ann: Book, symbol of her careful instruction of Mary; flowering rod; crown; nest of young birds; door; Golden Gate of Jerusalem; book; infant Virgin in crib; Shield has silver border masoned in black, with silver lily on a blue field referring to the girlhood of the Virgin.
Ann: Book, symbol of her careful instruction of Mary; flowering rod; crown; nest of young birds; door; Golden Gate of Jerusalem; book; infant Virgin in crib; Shield has silver border masoned in black, with silver lily on a blue field referring to the girlhood of the Virgin.
Often Portrayed As: Woman holding Mary or Jesus in her arms or lap; Woman at her betrothal to Joachim; Mother teaching Mary to read the Bible; Woman greeting Saint Joachim at Golden Gate; Woman with a book in her hand.
Joachim: Basket containing doves; model of Golden Gate of Jerusalem.
Often Portrayed As: Man bringing a lamb to the altar and being turned away by the priest; greeting and/or kissing Saint Anne at the Golden Gate; elderly man carrying a basket of doves and a staff; elderly man with the child Mary.
Often Portrayed As: Man bringing a lamb to the altar and being turned away by the priest; greeting and/or kissing Saint Anne at the Golden Gate; elderly man carrying a basket of doves and a staff; elderly man with the child Mary.
I love all of the pictures and information about
ReplyDeleteSts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Virgin Mary
I love them, too, Rachel. It's the only times in Biblical art that you see the love and a husband and wife, I believe. I've always loved that about them. St. Anne, btw, is my Patron Saint (although I chose Brigid of Ireland at Confirmation; as an adult, I look up to St. Anne). Anna is my middle name and, in Germany, at least one of your names had to be a Saint's name. My brother's name is Stephan. I go by Anne in the "outside world" or Dr. Anne ;-). Thank you both for your kind comments.
ReplyDeleteNext week, I look forward to the writing about the Exaltation of the Hold Cross and about the Lady of Sorrows. Stay tuned...
ReplyDeleteHello, I just see your post, and wanted to say that you can learn more about the birth of the Virgin Mary, and their parents that if they called Ann and Joachim, in the writings of Clement Brentano on what he said Beata Anna Catherine Emmerich , there comes a long and very interesting story. And best of all this is that we believe in this because God himself made known to the whole Church. greetings.
ReplyDeleteHere a link of this in spanish i dont know one in english: http://www.capillacatolica.org/NacimientoVirgenMaria.html#III_San_Joaquin_y_Santa_Ana
God bless you.