July 26: Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Grandparents of Jesus

In the Gospels, Mary is presented as a young woman from Nazareth, betrothed to Joseph, whose genealogy is carefully traced to illustrate Jesus as descendant of David. However, there is no direct reference to Mary's own family, who were likely also residents of Nazareth.

From the earliest centuries, however, Christian tradition has passed down the names of her parents: Joachim (meaning “God grants”) and Anne (“grace” or “full of grace”). The apocryphal Gospels, while not historically reliable, offer us a picture of a simple and humble couple. Though unaware of their daughter’s extraordinary mission, they welcomed her and raised her in a spirit of faith, opening their hearts to God's gift.

The veneration of Saint Anne appears in Eastern liturgies as early as the 6th century, and in the West beginning in the 8th century. By the end of the 14th century, her cult had spread throughout the entire Church.

Saint Anne is often depicted teaching the young Mary to read the Bible—a symbol of the transmission of faith and wisdom. A well-known Russian icon shows Joachim and Anne kissing upon learning of their daughter’s conception: a tender image of marital love and their participation in the mystery of the Incarnation.

The holiness and courage of these parents can be sensed in the family environment that surrounds Mary in the Gospels. Mary's inner strength, her ability to make important decisions, her life of constant prayer, her observance of religious laws, her faithfulness in times of trial, and her care for relatives—all reflect a united and deeply faithful family that knew how to hold on to tradition while remaining open to newness.

Joachim and Anne represent all those quiet and faithful generations who lived out their faith with integrity, passing on religious values and, unknowingly, preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah. They remain in the background, but their role was essential.

This day is, in every sense, a “Grandparents’ Feast Day.” It reminds grandparents of their important mission: to shape the future by passing on the best of the past, to keep traditions alive and offer them as a gift to the younger generations. But the feast also speaks to the young: it calls them to recognize and appreciate the wisdom of the elderly, who have a deeper understanding of life, born from experience and reflection. It is a wisdom that should not be ignored but heard with attention and respect.