Parenting and Grandparenting!

Friday, July 26, 2024

Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mother Mary

Jer 3:14-17; Mt 13:18-23

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mother Mary. 

Their lives are not directly recorded in the Bible, but early Christian traditions, which are not considered authoritative in the same manner as the Bible, help us with a description of Mary’s parents. 

The Protoevangelium of James describes Mary’s father, Joachim, as a wealthy member of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. It also records that Joachim was deeply grieved, along with his wife Anne, by their childlessness. In his faith, he often called to mind Abraham, saying that God gave him a son, Isaac, while he was well advanced in age. It is recorded, ‘Joachim was exceedingly grieved, and did not come into the presence of his wife; but he retired to the desert, and there pitched his tent, and fasted forty days and forty nights, saying to himself: I will not go down either for food or drink until the Lord my God shall look upon me, and prayer shall be my food and drink.’

In Joachim’s attitude and approach, one can sense the profundity of his faith that made him resort to penance and prayer in order to draw God’s attention. 

Similarly, it is recorded that in her mourning and lamentation, Anne prayed, ‘I shall bewail my widowhood; I shall bewail my childlessness.’ Then Anne ‘saw a laurel, sat under it, and prayed to the Lord, saying: O God of our fathers, bless me and hear my prayer, as You blessed the womb of Sarah and gave her a son, Isaac.’ In the midst of her prayers, an angel appeared and said, ‘The Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive and bring forth, and your seed shall be spoken of in all the world.’ At the same time, an angel appeared to Joachim, saying, ‘Joachim, Joachim, the Lord God has heard your prayer. Go down hence; for, behold, your wife Anne shall conceive.’

It is surprising to note that both Joachim and Anne were of one accord when it came to making a fervent appeal to win God’s favor. 

According to the Protoevangelium of James, after Mary’s birth, Anne ‘made a sanctuary’ in the infant girl’s room, and ‘allowed nothing common or unclean on account of the special holiness of the child.’ 

Then, Mary’s parents decided that she would be offered to God as a consecrated Virgin for the rest of her life and enter into a chaste marriage with the carpenter Joseph.

These accounts of Joachim and Anne certainly inspire us to reflect on the role of parents in bringing up a child with profound faith and trust in God. In this sense, Saints Joachim and Anne symbolize the ideal parenting model. By bringing up Mary in piety and holiness, they have imparted the value of transmitting the faith to younger generations. The grandparents of Jesus not only loved God but also instilled in Mary the same spirit that guided their lives. We have two points for our reflection. 

Importance of Parenting: Reflecting on Mary’s parents, Pope Francis said, ‘It was Saints Anne and Joachim who cultivated in the young Mary a love for God, preparing her for the role in the story of divine redemption.’ As such, the strong faith and trust in which Mary was brought up by Joachim and Anne allowed her to say yes to God’s plan for humanity. Every child is God’s gift. But what they turn into as grown-up humans depends a lot on parenting. Here, Joachim and Anne set an impressive example. 

Importance of Grandparenting: When telling someone to hold on to his/her faith amid unhealthy distractions, it is usual to say, ‘Don’t forget what your grandma taught.’ The grandparents of Jesus made a unique contribution when they transmitted their faith and love for God to their daughter Mary. The elderly couple Joachim and Anne represent the Christian grandparents, who can only facilitate intergenerational exchanges and dialogue within the context of the family. 

Faith is the greatest gift that Christian parents and grandparents can give to children. 

Saints Joachim and Anne gave the precious gift of faith to Mary and, through her, to Jesus!

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar