Today is the feast day of Ss. Joachim and Anne. They were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the biological grandparents of Jesus our Lord. At 9am we shall offer Mass (in Latin this being the fourth Saturday of the month) and we shall pray for all those who are grandparents themselves. It is so very important that we do pray for families- for we live in a selfish world where the philosophy of the individual is triumphing over that of the family. As Christians the world of ‘rights’ and ‘me, me, me’ are simply not an option. We are called to live out our lives as the family of God- each sacrificing self for the other. We are to be a community of generosity and love. The holy family into which we entered at baptism.
Holy Tradition teaches that Ss. Joachim and Anne, had prayed fervently for a child. In their devotion they promised to dedicate their child to the service of God. Little did they realise what the repercussions of their actions would be!
Thus as a tiny child Mary was taken to the temple. Tradition says she was brought before the fifteen steps which led to the sanctuary. Our Lady, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, ascended them all- coming to the Holy of Holies where only the High Priest was allowed to enter. The Holy of Holies was the very place where God himself resided. Suddenly, moved by the Holy Spirit, the High Priest broke every rule in the book and led this tiny girl into the Holy of Holies, astonishing everyone present. And thus Mary, whose own womb would become the Holy of Holies (the place where God resides), herself entered the presence of God.
Ss. Joachim and Anne returned to their home (which I have visited in Israel) whilst Mary remained in the Temple and was prepared for a life of holiness. The rest I think we all know!
Heavenly Father we thankyou for the example of Ss. Joachim and Anne. May we like them offer all that we have to you, and may we raise our family, at home and in the church, to love you above all things and to make you the main priority in life. We pray for all those who are grandparents, and ask that you bless them on this most holy day.
Amen
Totally agree on the need for unselfishness and self-sacrifice in the face of ‘me, me, me’. However, in my view, much contemporary selfishness has centred on ‘me and my family’ versus the rest of society, not me versus my family. I therefore think we should pray for all of humanity, which is outward-looking, not just for the family which is, by definition, inward-looking.
Incidentally, there is of course not the smallest scintilla of evidence that Joachim or Anne ever existed…
Nonsense John! I have been to their house!!!
And I think it more than likely that they did exist – for if Mary was a reality I would assume she had parents? No?
and I would agree with you re family…but only if you define ‘family’ by the non sensical modern nuclear family. I would prefer the model Jesus knew which engaged the whole community- indeed S. Barnabas is our family…and that is the point!
Well she obviously had parents although we have no idea what they were called, or indeed anything at all about them. However I understand that not only did she conceive Christ immaculately, but she herself was virginally and immaculately conceived! Immaculate conception is clearly hereditary!
Whilst their is no scriptural evidence (and thus not a thing that must be believed) we do have the facts from holy tradition, which as a Catholic Anglican I wholeheartedly trust.