| Saint Joachim | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth | 1st century BC. |
| Feast Day | |
| Patron | Fathers, Grandfathers, Grandparents |
St. Joachim was, according to Christian tradition, the husband of Saint Anne and the father of the Virgin Mary, making him the grandfather of Jesus Christ. He was a wealthy and devout man from Nazareth who, despite facing societal disgrace for being childless, was blessed in his old age with the birth of Mary. His feast day is July 26, shared with St. Anne.
Personal Life
Saints Joachim (sometimes spelled "Joaquin," pronounced "wal-keem") and Anne, are the parents of the Virgin Mary. There are no mentions of them in the Bible or Gospels, what we know comes from Catholic legend and the Gospel of James, which is an unsanctioned, apocryphal writing form the second century AD. We do know from scholarship that the Gospel of James was not written by James, the Brother of Jesus, despite its claim to be so authored.
Even the early Church fathers expressed skepticism about the Gospel of James in their writings. There are about 150 copies of the ancient manuscript which often have different titles, but tell the same story, that Mary was promised to Joachim and Anne by an angel, was consecrated to God, and she remained a virgin all her life.
Naturally, there is plenty of room for scholarly debate about these saints. We have no true primary sources that prove they even existed, but certainly we can agree that Mary had parents. Likewise, we can agree that.
Joachim and Anne serve as role models for parents and both deserve to be honored and emulated for their devotion to God and Our Lady Mary, the Mother of God. [1]
Miracles and Testimonies
- Divine Intervention - After his offering was rejected at the Temple due to his childlessness, Joachim fasted and did penance for 40 days in the desert, where an angel revealed that his and Anne's prayers were heard.
- The Annunciation to Joachim - The angel promised him that his wife would conceive a child who would be "blessed throughout the ages".
- Meeting at the Golden Gate - Upon receiving this news, Joachim returned to Jerusalem, meeting his wife, Anne, at the Golden Gate, which symbolizes the conception of the Virgin Mary.
- Legacy - As the grandfather of Jesus Christ, Joachim is honored as a model of faith and patience, serving as the patron saint of fathers, grandfathers, and married couples.
Legacy
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. [2]