Reflection: Saint Anne and Saint Joachim...

Today is the Feast Day of Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They nurtured Mary, taught her and brought her up to become the worthy Mother of God. It was their teaching that led her to respond to God's request with faith, "Let it be done to me according to Your Will." It was their example of parenting that Mary must have followed as she brought up her own Son, Jesus. It was their faith that laid the foundation of courage and strength that allowed her to stand at the foot of the Cross as her Beloved Son was crucified. They are examples and models for all parents and for all married couples.

The heroism and holiness of the parents of Mary set the atmosphere of the whole family around the Scriptures. We see in Mary a fulfillment of many generations of prayerful persons, herself steeped in the religious traditions of her people. 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. Saints Joachim and Anne faithfully performed their duties and practiced their faith quietly.

Saint Anne is the patron saint of mothers, grandmothers and pregnant women. Devotion to her was the beginning of this prayer ministry. The novena to Saint Anne had a powerful impact on the pregnancy and birth of Lily Grace because of a community of people who were praying the novena to her that this precious baby would have abundant life. Her life is the fruit of prayer. The prayers were answered in the gift of this child who brings love and joy to everyone she meets. She is eight years old now and she received her First Holy Communion in May. On that beautiful day, she said, "I am so happy I can receive Jesus." She knows the treasure the gift of Jesus is

2 Corinthians 4:7-10  Brothers and sisters, We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.  We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.

No matter what we go through, Jesus is with us.  The Lord is present in everything that happens. He is with us in sickness and affliction of any kind.  He is with us when we do not understand. He is with us when we are struck down and when we feel we are being destroyed. He is with us when we are persecuted and abandoned but the Lord will never abandon us.

It seems as though the darkness of these days is overcoming the light but Jesus is the Light and we must remember that the darkness will not prevail.  Let us call upon the grandparents of Jesus, Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, to intercede for all our needs for our families. Let us turn to them as models for marriage and love. Let us ask Mary, our Mother, to walk with us and lead us to a place of peace.

"Joachim and Ann, how blessed and spotless a couple! You will be known by the fruit you have born, as the Lord says: By their fruits you will know them. The conduct of your life pleased God and was worthy of your daughter. For by the chaste and holy life you led together, you have fashioned a jewel of virginity: she who remained a virgin before, during and after giving birth. She alone for all time would maintain her virginity in mind and soul as well as in body." Saint John Damascene, Early Church Father and Doctor of the Church

Good Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, pray for us and for all those for whom we pray.