Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)

Feast is celebrated on 26 July.

In the second century writing of the Proto-gospel of James; the “Protoevangelium of James,” describes Mary's parent Anna ("Hannah" which means grace") from Bethlehem and Joachim from Nazareth as a wealthy and pious memberthe tribe of Judah of the royal house of David, of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Joachim was deeply grieved, along with his wife Anna, by their childlessness. Joachim called to mind Abraham that in the last day God gave him a son Isaac. The Joachim's and Anne's faith and perseverance brought them through the sorrow of childlessness till the joy of being chosen by God in conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless Mary who would give birth to our Saviour Jesus, the Son of God. Therefore, St Joachim and St Anne were the parents of Mary and the grandparents of Jesus.

Among Catholics, there is greater devotion to St Anne as compared to St Joachim but devotion to both of them shows respect for the family. St Joachim and St Anne are the patron saints of grandparents and infertile couples.

St Anne and St Joachim 

is glorious among the Saints, 

not only as the parent of Mary, 

but by their vow they gave Mary to God.

O Lord, God of our Fathers, 

who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, 

that of them should be born 

the Mother of your incarnate Son, 

grant, through the prayers of both, 

that we may attain the salvation 

you have promised to your people.

St Joachim and St Anne, pray for us!

Friday, 26 July, 2013
Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)
Reading

Sirach 44: 1, 10 - 15
1	Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations.
10	But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
11	their prosperity will remain with their descendants, and their inheritance to their children's children.
12	Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake.
13	Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out.
14	Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations.
15	Peoples will declare their wisdom, and the congregation proclaims their praise.

Psalm

Psalms 132: 11, 13 - 14, 17 - 18
11	The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
13	For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:
14	"This is my resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
17	There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18	His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown will shed its luster."

Gospel

Matthew 13: 16 - 17
16	But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17	Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.