FFC SAINTS AND MARY
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July 26
Sts. Ann and
Joachim
In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke
furnish a legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is
the culmination of great promises. Not only is his mother’s family neglected,
we also know nothing factual about them except that they existed. Even the
names Joachim and Ann come from a legendary source written more
than a century after Jesus died.
The heroism and holiness of these
people, however, is inferred from the whole family atmosphere around Mary in
the Scriptures. Whether we rely on the legends about Mary’s childhood or make
guesses from the information in the Bible, we see in her a fulfillment
of many generations of prayerful persons, herself steeped in the religious
traditions of her people.
The strong character of Mary in making
decisions, her continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her
faith, her steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her
relatives—all indicate a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the
next generation even while retaining the best of the past.
Joachim and Ann—whether these are their
real names or not—represent that entire quiet series of generations who
faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith and establish an
atmosphere for the coming of the Messiah, but remain obscure.
Comment:
This is the “:feast of grandparents.” It reminds
grandparents of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to
come: They must make the traditions live and offer them as a promise to little
children. But the feast has a message for the younger generation as well. It
reminds the young that older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience
and appreciation of life’s profound rhythms are all part of a
wisdom not to be taken lightly or ignored.
Quote:
“...[T]he family is the foundation of society. In it
the various generations come together and help one another to grow wise and to
harmonize personal rights with the other requirements of social life” (Pastoral
Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 52).
Patron Saint of:
Grandparents
Housewives
Pregnant women
Women in labor
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