Saints of the day - July 26

Today as we celebrate the feast of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, we honour the lives of Mary’s parents, the earthly grandparents of Jesus. As existing information about Saints Anne and Joachim comes from the Catholic legend, there is debate over the details of their lives. But regardless, it can be agreed that to be the parents of Jesus’s earthly mother, Saint Anne and Saint Joachim must have been faithful, devoted parents indeed.

Although the canonical books of the New Testament never mention about the mother of the Virgin Mary, traditions about her family, childhood, education, and eventual betrothal to Joseph developed very early in the history of the church.

Mary's father Joachim was supposedly a wealthy member of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. He was deeply grieved, along with his wife Anne, by their childlessness. Hence, Joachim and Anne devoted themselves to rigorous prayer and fasting, in isolation from one another and from the society as well. They regarded their inability to conceive a child as a surpassing misfortune and a sign of shame among the tribes of Israel.

The couple's faith and perseverance brought them through the sorrow of childlessness, to the joy of conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless woman, who would give birth to Christ. As it turned out, they were to be blessed abundantly.

An angel revealed to Anne when he appeared to her and prophesied that all generations would honour their future child: “The Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall bring forth; and your seed shall be spoken of in the entire world.”

Mary had good, faithful parents who raised her with a love and devotion to God. Joachim and Anne serve as role models for parents, and both deserve to be honoured and emulated for their devotion to God and Our Lady Mary, the Mother of God.

In the 4th century and later in the 15th century, a belief arose that Mary was conceived of Anne without original sin. This belief in the Immaculate Conception states that God preserved Mary's body and soul intact and sinless from her first moment of existence, through the merits of Jesus Christ.

At one time, July 26 was the feast of St. Anne only, but with the new calendar the two feasts of the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary have been joined and are celebrated today.

The patronage of Saint Anne includes grandparents, couples without children, women in labor and women unable to conceive. Likewise, Saint Joachim is considered the patron of grandfathers, fathers and grandparents.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Bartholomea Capitanjo
2. Saint Valence
3. Saint Hyacinth
4. Saint Erastus
5. Saint Pastor

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