ST. ANNE AND ST. JOACHIM

In the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, July 26 is the feast day of Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. These saints are not biblical figures. Most of what is known about them comes from apocryphal writings, particularly the Protoevangelium of James, a text written in the 2nd century. This means their story is part of the Tradition of the Church.

From our Tradition, we know that both were deeply pious people of some wealth. St. Joachim was a descendant of King David, and in our faith is celebrated as the patron saint of fathers, grandfathers, married couples, cabinet makers and linen traders. St. Anne (Hannah) was born in Bethlehem, the city of David, and is the patron saint of unmarried women, housewives, women in labour or who want to be pregnant, grandmothers, mothers and educators. She is also a patroness of horseback riders, cabinet-makers and miners. Between the two of them, they share a broad range of influence in the heavenly realm.

We also know from our Tradition, that this devout Jewish couple were childless. This was a source of great sorrow for them, and they prayed fervently for a child. Joachim even went into the desert to fast and pray for 40 days begging God to give them a child. Their hope and prayerful tenacity eventually were rewarded. An angel appeared to each of them separately and brought the news that they were to have a child. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was thus conceived Immaculately and born. It is more than fitting, then, that this miraculous child be presented in the temple by her parents. St. Anne is often depicted teaching Mary to read and write. She was raised to become an educated woman of great virtue and destined to be the Mother of God.

The impact of our lives is not limited to historical records and the stories told about us. St. Anne, in particular, is known as the patroness of Christendom and Canada. As a person of Mi’kmaq and Irish/British ancestry, I was delighted to learn that St. Anne is revered among many Indigenous cultures as a protectress and intercessor. Of note for me, she has a particular place of honour in the post-contact colonial spirituality of the Mi’kmaq people. One of the most prominent expressions of this devotion is the annual St. Anne’s feast day, celebrated on July 26. This event is marked by gatherings, Masses and traditional ceremonies.

In my own life experience, St. Anne was a significant presence and influence. My father, whether because of our Mi’kmaq heritage or the fact that he worked in the copper mines, was devoted to her. As a wee child, I had no sense she was a historical figure from centuries ago. Why? Because my father excitedly received Christmas and Easter cards from St. Anne. In my little mind and heart, she was like a far-away great auntie who kept in contact with my father. When I was a little older, I thought she was sending these cards from heaven. As a young adult, I learned that my father was a member of the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré in Quebec. They sent him regular communications. But.. I much preferred having a great auntie in heaven!

Growing up in my home, St. Anne was everywhere. A small magnetic statuette of her was always on the shelf of our old wood stove. Later, she was moved to the top of our electric stove. To this day, the same statue sits on the stove in my home in Newfoundland. “Our house will never burn as long as we have St. Anne on our stove,” my father would say. I currently keep a magnetic statuette of St. Anne on my stove in Ontario. Better safe than sorry.

Once, I sent my father a small statue of St. Anne as a Christmas present. When he received it, he telephoned me before he opened it. “I know it is a statue of St. Anne,” he said, “I prayed to her that one of my 10 children get me one for Christmas. Yours was the last present to arrive, and I hadn’t gotten one yet. St. Anne never lets me down!” It is so nice to live under the care of such a wonderful great auntie!

I give thanks for the stories I heard about my great auntie Anne and her husband Joachim. To this day, that is how I think of all the saints. They are spiritual aunties and uncles who watch over us from heaven.

We pray:

We pray for blessings,
For grandparents,
For labouring mothers,
For labouring men

We pray for Indigenous peoples
In this time of truth and reconciliation.

All these prayers we offer,
that eventually
we may birth Christ into our world
by providing safety, refuge and justice
through our actions and attitudes.

We pray this through the intercession
of Saints Anne and Joachim,
grandparents of Jesus,
auntie and uncle to us all.

Amen.

Michael Way Skinner is a retired Coordinator of Religion, Family Life and Equity
with the York Catholic District School Board. He was a contributing author to World
Religions: A Canadian Catholic Perspective, and co-authored There Must be a Pony in Here Somewhere (Novalis, 2020) with his wife, Christine Way Skinner. Michael is a public speaker and award-winning educator who is deeply committed to faith as a source for inclusion and justice.