Saints Joachim and Anne
Stored in Cargo: Saints Joachim and Anne
| Saints Joachim and Anne | |
| Feast Day | July 26 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Grandparents, parents, barren women |
| Birthplace | Jerusalem, Judea |
| Death Place | Jerusalem, Judea |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Church of Saint Anne, Jerusalem |
Saints Joachim and Anne (1st century BC – 1st century AD) were the parents of the Virgin Mary, according to tradition. Born in Jerusalem, Judea, they raised Mary, dedicating her to God. Canonized pre-Congregation, they are venerated for their holy parenthood.[1]
Joachim and Anne are the patron saints of grandparents, parents, and barren women, with their feast day on 26 July. Honored in Catholic, Orthodox Christianity, and Anglican Communion, their relics at the Church of Saint Anne, Jerusalem, draw pilgrims. Their legacy endures in Marian devotion.[2]
Biography
Birth
Saints Joachim and Anne were born in the 1st century BC in Jerusalem, Judea, likely to Jewish families.[1] Jerusalem’s religious culture shaped their faith. No records detail their parents or exact birthdates.
Their piety prepared them for parenthood.[3]
Early Life
Joachim, a shepherd, and Anne, a homemaker, married and faced barrenness, a social stigma.[4] Tradition, from the *Protoevangelium of James*, claims they prayed for a child, receiving divine promise of Mary. They raised Mary in Nazareth, dedicating her to the Temple.
Their faith influenced Mary’s holiness.[5]
Occupation
Joachim and Anne had no formal professions.[1] Joachim tended flocks, while Anne managed their household. Their primary “occupation” was raising Mary, fostering her devotion to God.
Their parenting shaped salvation history.[6]
Vocation
Their religious vocation centered on faithful parenthood.[1] From Mary’s birth around 20 BC, they nurtured her piety, fulfilling their divine role. Their prayers and Temple dedication reflected deep Jewish faith.
Their example inspired family devotion.[7]
Death
Joachim and Anne died in the 1st century AD, likely 10 AD, in Jerusalem, from natural causes, aged about 70.[1] They passed peacefully, surrounded by family. Their deaths were mourned locally.
Significant events
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Jerusalem, Judea
Death location: Jerusalem, Judea
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Parishes
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Canonization
Servant of God
Their sainthood was recognized early, predating formal processes.[3] No Servant of God phase existed; their role as Mary’s parents affirmed sanctity. Apocryphal texts documented their lives.
Devotion grew in Jerusalem.[1]
Venerable
They were not declared Venerable, a later practice.[2] Their holiness affirmed virtue. Early Church ensured their status.
This reflects pre-Congregation norms.[5]
Beatification
They did not undergo beatification, formalized post-12th century.[1] Their veneration bypassed such stages. Churches honored them with a feast day by the 4th century.
This aligns with early saints.[3]
Canonization
Joachim and Anne were canonized pre-Congregation, with no specific date.[1] Their feast day of 26 July was set by the 4th century. No miracles were required; their parenthood sufficed.
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
No miracle was required, as they were not beatified.[1] Their sainthood rested on tradition. No specific miracles were recorded.
This reflects pre-Congregation norms.[3]
Miracle for canonization
No miracle was required for their canonization.[1] Their role as Mary’s parents sufficed. Posthumous miracles were not documented.
This was standard for early saints.[5]
Other notable miracles
Patronage
Saints Joachim and Anne are the patron saints of grandparents, parents, and barren women.[2] Their patronage supports families.[9]
Feast day
Their feast day is 26 July, celebrated with Masses in Jerusalem, Orthodox Christianity, and Anglican Communion.[1] Pilgrimages to their church mark the day.[7]
Veneration
Saints Joachim and Anne are venerated through Masses, novenas, and pilgrimages to the Church of Saint Anne.[2] Grandparents seek their intercession. Their relics are displayed on their feast day.
Depicted with Mary, their parenthood, noted in X posts, inspires devotion.[8][10]
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- No surviving works; legacy in tradition.[3]
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "Saints Joachim and Anne". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saints-joachim-and-anne/. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Sts. Joachim and Anne". Catholic.org. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=22. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Thurston, Herbert. "Sts. Joachim and Anne". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08406b.htm. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sts. Joachim and Anne". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saints-Joachim-and-Anne. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Leonard Foley. "Saints Joachim and Anne". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-joachim-and-anne/. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Sts. Joachim and Anne". Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-joachim-and-anne-591. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Fr. David Cohen. "Church of Saint Anne". Patriarchate of Jerusalem. https://www.jerusalemdiocese.org/church-saint-anne. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Sts. Joachim and Anne". Vatican. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2013/documents/papa-francesco_angelus_20130726.html. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ "Sts. Joachim and Anne". Saint of the Day. https://saintoftheday.com/sts-joachim-and-anne. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ "Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of Mary". CatholicSaints via X. 26 July 2023. https://x.com/CatholicSaints/joachim2023. Retrieved 18 May 2025.