Thursday 26 July

Sts Joachim and Ann,
Parents of Mary

Ecclesiasticus 44:1,10-15, Ps.132, Matthew 13:16-17

Parents and Grandparents

We think of Joachim and Ann as having been wonderfully blessed. So they were, to have Our Lady as daughter and Jesus himself as a grandchild. Still, it must have been hard. Hard to believe your teenage daughter with her talk of angels, hard to endure the whispers of the neighbours and the fear that Joseph might repudiate her.

We don’t know how long they lived and whether they saw Jesus grow up, but they must have feared for him and for his future.

Could we ask their prayers today for all parents and grandparents worrying about and agonising for their children.