Friday 26 July 2024
Ss Joachim & Anne | Day of penance
Jeremiah 3:14-17. The Lord will guard us, like a shepherd guarding his flock – Jeremiah 31:10-13. Matthew 13:18-23.
The importance of good foundations and strong roots
There’s not a lot known about St Anne and St Joachim. Apart from the apocryphal Gospel of James, we defer to tradition and our imaginations to fill the gaps. As parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, they are celebrated as the patron saints of grandparents.
In our culture and society, grandparents are often the bedrock of family life, a symbol and source of nurturing and stability. Like the seed thrown by the sower into good soil, grandparents remind us of the importance of good foundations and strong roots. Through love and longevity, grandparents connect past to present and future. When I picture grandparents I know or see in my community, they often seem to be full of joy and gratitude, especially when spending time with their grandchildren – in many ways the fruit they yield.
May St Anne and St Joachim’s feast day be a day for grandparents and for all who strive to recognise God at work in their lives.
Email this Print This Page
