STS. JOACHIM AND ANNE
Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary – July 26
Passing on the Faith Through the Quiet Work of Family Life
Introduction
Ask someone who first taught them to pray, and they may remember a grandmother who prayed with them before bed, a grandfather who took them to church, or a parent who helped them find words for a fear they could hardly express. These memories often endure because prayer was part of a relationship in which they felt loved.
On July 26, the Church honors Sts. Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the maternal grandparents of Jesus. Their memorial invites us to consider how faith takes root in a family and how much we receive from those who came before us.
Who Were Sts. Joachim and Anne?
The Gospels tell us about Mary’s response to God, her care for Elizabeth, and her life with Jesus. The names of her parents come to us through early Christian tradition. They appear in the Protoevangelium of James, an early Christian writing outside the canon of Scripture. This work tells of a couple who longed for a child, received Mary with gratitude, and dedicated her to God.
The details of their lives are difficult to establish. The Church’s remembrance centers on their place in the family of Mary. In honoring them, we give thanks for the generations through whom God prepared the way for the coming of Christ.
The Faith Mary Received and Made Her Own
At the Annunciation, Mary asks how the angel’s message will come about. After hearing his answer, she freely entrusts herself to God. Later, during her visit to Elizabeth, her prayer draws on the language and hope of Israel. She praises the Lord who lifts up the lowly and remembers his mercy from generation to generation.
We can hear in Mary’s prayer the faith of a people who had long waited for God to fulfill his promises. We can also hear her own gratitude. She recognizes what God has done in her life and responds in her own voice.
This is one of the hopes of parents and grandparents. They teach children to pray and help them know the Gospel. As children mature, they need room to ask their own questions and discover how the Lord is calling them.
The Readings and the Inheritance of Faith
In the readings provided for the memorial in the Roman Rite, Sirach remembers ancestors whose goodness continues to bear fruit among their descendants. Jesus then tells his disciples how blessed they are to see and hear what earlier generations had longed for.
These readings place Joachim and Anne within the long history of God’s faithfulness. Each generation receives something it did not begin and hands it on to people whose future it cannot fully see. A grandparent may teach a child a simple prayer and never know how often that prayer will return to the child in adult life. Much of what families give one another bears fruit in this quiet way.
The Vocation of Grandparents
Grandparents often have time to listen to questions that arise on an ordinary afternoon. They can tell children what life was like when their parents were young, share how the family came through a difficult period, or speak honestly about a time when they needed God’s help. These conversations help children see that faith belongs to the whole of life.
Families separated by distance can make room for the same kind of attention. A regular phone call, a prayer before a grandchild’s examination, or a story about a family member the child never met can help sustain a relationship across generations.
This memorial also reminds us to listen to older people in our parish, including those whose families live far away. Their stories and prayers belong to the life of the community. Making time for them is one way we honor what God has given us through them.
When Passing on the Faith Is Difficult
Some parents and grandparents carry a quiet sadness because their children or grandchildren have drifted away from the practice of the faith. They may wonder what they could have done differently or feel unsure how to speak about God now.
There is still room for patient love. We can pray for our family members by name, listen when they tell us about their experiences, and answer their questions with care. If past conversations have left hurt on either side, a sincere apology may be the first step toward speaking freely again.
Faith is a gift of grace, and each person responds freely. We can entrust those we love to God while remaining available to them with affection and hope.
A Life Connection
A grandmother notices that her grandson is worried about starting at a new school. She tells him about a time when she moved to an unfamiliar place and how she prayed for the courage to introduce herself to one person. Then she asks whether he would like to pray with her. After his first day, she calls to ask how it went.
The boy learns that he can bring his worries to God in ordinary words. He also learns something about the care that should accompany prayer. His grandmother remembers what he told her and makes time to listen again. The lesson may stay with him long after he has forgotten his first day at school.
Eucharistic Connection
In the Holy Qurbana, people of different generations hear the same Word of God and gather around the same altar. Christ nourishes the whole community with his Body and Blood. Children learn from the reverence and attention of those beside them. Adults, in turn, may find their own faith renewed by a child’s questions about what they see and hear.
We can bring our family to the altar in prayer, remembering those who first taught us the faith, those who are finding their way, and those who have died. When we return home, our thanksgiving can take a practical form. We can give someone our undivided attention, speak gently in a tense moment, or make time to pray together.
Messages and Call to Conversion
The memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne invites us to remember someone who helped us come to know God. If that person is living, we can thank them for something specific. If they have died, we can pray for them and carry forward a good practice we learned from them.
We can also take one step to strengthen faith in our family this week. We might bless our children before they leave home, invite an older relative to tell a story of faith, or make time for a brief family prayer in which each person can name someone who needs God’s help.
Conclusion
Sts. Joachim and Anne remind us how much God can accomplish through the ordinary life of a family. Through their intercession, may parents and grandparents find patience in their responsibilities, may older people know that their gifts are valued, and may younger generations come to know Christ through the faith and love they receive at home.
