Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

St Joachim & St Anne were the parents of the Virgin Mary, according to tradition derived from certain apocryphal writings. St. Anne is one of the patron saints of Brittany and Canada and of women in labour. As the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Anne and Joachim are also considered the patron saints of grandparents.

The first reading is from the book of Ecclesiasticus (44:1.10-15).  In it the author praises the virtuous stating that their children and grandchildren will be a blessing – “In their descendants there remains a rich inheritance born of them.   Their descendants stand by the covenants and, thanks to them, so do their children’s children.  Their offspring will last for ever, their glory will not fade.  Their bodies have been buried in peace, and their name lives on for all generations. The peoples will proclaim their wisdom, the assembly will celebrate their praises.”

In the Gospel from Matthew (13:16-17) we hear Jesus say to his disciples “happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.”