Saint of the Day - Sts. Anne and Joachim

Saints Anne and Joachim were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and hence the grandparents of Jesus. Very little is known about them for certain. The information we do have comes from the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James and from legend.

One account states that St. Joachim was a shepherd who provided sheep to the Temple of Jerusalem for sacrifices, while another account states that the couple was actually rather well-to-do. St. Joachim is believed to have been a Galilean.

A traditional legend tells that as an elderly couple Joachim and Anne had no children. Joachim went into the desert to pray and fast, asking the Lord for a child, while Anne was at home praying for the same gift. They each received a vision from an angel who told them that Anne would have a child whom they were to name Mary.

The couple traditionally gave their child in service to the Temple at the age of three.

The tomb of Sts. Anne and Joachim is located in Jerusalem.

St. Anne is the patroness: against poverty; against sterility; of broommakers; of cabinetmakers; of carpenters; of childless people; of equestrians; of expectant mothers; of grandmothers; of grandparents; of homemakers; of horse men; of horse women; of housewives; of lace makers; of lace workers; of lost articles; of miners; of mothers; of old-clothes dealers; of poor people; of pregnancy; of pregnant wome; of riders; of seamstresses; of stablemen; of turners; and of women in labour. St. Joachim is the patron saint of: Adjuntas, Puerto Rico; fathers; grandfathers; and grandparents.