FEAST OF STS JOAQUIM AND ANNE, THE PARENTS OF THE VIRGIN MARY
Saints Joachim (also spelled “Joaquim,” pronounced “wal-keem”) and Anne, are the parents of the Virgin Mary. There are no mentions of them in the Bible or Gospels, what we know comes from Catholic legend and the Gospel of James, which is an unsanctioned, apocryphal writing form the second century AD. We do know from scholarship that the Gospel of James was not written by James, the Brother of Jesus, despite its claim to be so authored.
Even the early Church fathers expressed skepticism about the Gospel of James in their writings. There are about 150 copies of the ancient manuscript which often have different titles, but tell the same story, that Mary was promised to Joachim and Anne by an angel, was consecrated to God, and she remained a virgin all her life.
Naturally, there is plenty of room for scholarly debate about these saints. We have no true primary sources that prove they even existed, but certainly we can agree that Mary had parents. Likewise, we can agree that Mary had good, faithful parents who raised her with a love and devotion to God like none other except Jesus Christ Himself.
Joachim and Anne serve as role models for parents and both deserve to be honored and emulated for their devotion to God and Our Lady Mary, the Mother of God.
PRAYER TO SAINTS JOAQUIM AND ANNE – 26th JULY
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. – Ephesians 6:1-3
Dear Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and grandparents of Jesus, our Divine Savior, you are both most dear to the Heart of Jesus, whose beloved Mother was your own tender, devoted child! Can he refuse anything to the ones in whose veins the same blood flowed which afterwards furnished the precious price of our Redemption and the gift of Eternal Life?
Great Saints, nothing was impossible to your power and influence over the young Jesus who grew, full of wisdom, under the protective care of your glorious Daughter, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. In mercy and compassion, obtain for us the singularity of purpose of following the example you and Mary our Mother displayed, in devoutly performing the Will of God with both, nurturing our children to become shining examples of obedience, and serving our parents and older members of our family with love, dedication, and total devotion.
Help us to build up our family in faith, love, patience and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. May we uphold all the values ingrained in us by all who have parented us, to return their favor when they are old, and in want of our care. May we never be guilty of neglecting them, rejecting them, or withholding our love and understanding out of selfishness. Help us, beloved parents of Mary, who is our life, our sweetness and our hope, by praying to her for us, that she obtain for us this favor, in Jesus’ Name. Amen
HAPPY PARENTS’ DAY TO ALL!
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