In their home, Mary came into the world - Family Reflection Video

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the patron saints of grandparents.

 Who are these two people who were so honored as to be parents of the mother of Jesus, the Son of God?  Neither of them is mentioned in the genealogies of Jesus given in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and Luke goes all the way back to Adam in his record.  While these two genealogies show us that Jesus fulfills the prophecies for the Messiah, they do not tell us anything about the family in which His mother grew up.

Actually, their names don’t even appear until about a century after Jesus’ death.  Most of the information we have about them comes from the apocryphal writing of James and from Catholic legends.

According to legend, Anne, whose name is translated as “God gives grace” in Hebrew was childless until later in life, when she gave birth to Mary.  When Mary was three years old, Anne dedicated her to the service of the Lord indicating that she was faithful to Him.

Pope Francis remarked of Saints Anne and Joachim: “In their home, Mary came into the world, she grew up there; their love and faith surrounded her: in their home, she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow his will. Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave Him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith!”  

The ‘feast of grandparents of Jesus’ reminds grandparents that they are responsible for setting a tone for future generations: they must keep the traditions alive and give them to their grandchildren as a promise. Taking part in their grandchildren's training can be a rewarding experience for grandparents, teaching them to love the Lord's ways and to obey his commandments.

In addition to the message for the older generation, the feast also has a message for the younger generation. It emphasizes to young people the wisdom of older people, who have a broader perspective, deeper experience, and an appreciation for life's profound rhythms that cannot be ignored or taken lightly. 

In the Aparecida Document, Pope Benedict says, “Children and the elderly build the future of peoples: children because they lead history forward, the elderly because they transmit the experience and wisdom of their lives, this relationship and this dialogue between generations is a treasure to be preserved and strengthened!

• Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

• To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EDT, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)