The Need for Sts. Ann and Joachim's Example Today

St. Ann and her spouse, St. Joachim, were the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Their feast day is celebrated on July 26. It's believed that St. Joachim supplied the sheep for the temple sacrifices in Jerusalem.

Mary was born after the couple experienced years of childlessness.This event shares similarities with St. John the Baptist's birth. Both Ann and Joachim were told separately by angels they would conceive a child; both believed the Archangels.

Tradition holds that the couple met at the Golden Gate of Jerusalem and embraced after hearing the good news. This is why they are depicted in front of a Golden Gate in sacred art. They dedicated their daughter, Mary, to God. Mary therefore studied at the temple as a child, which was unusual since she was female.

In the Eastern Rite, the Feast of the Conception of St. Ann has been celebrated as far back at the ninth century, and later in the West became the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Today St. Ann is associated with helping women find a good husband. This association takes root from Mary's engagement to St. Joseph, an upright and good man.  In addition to finding Mary a good husband, St. Ann could also be credited as an instrument God used to find a suitable foster father for Jesus.

Sts. Ann and Joachim may also be the Saints to invoke to to defeat the attacks on God's design for a true definition of marriage too.

Here is a prayer for this intention:

Prayer for St. Ann and St. Joachim's Protection for Marriage

St. Ann and St. Joachim, pray for us to do God's will. Pray that we may

demonstrate God's faithfulness and love through our marriages.

Ask Jesus to forgive us our sins against our husband/wife and to

forgive our spouse for any wrongdoing against us. Please secure Jesus' blessing on

our homes and families so they may be a source of holiness.

We pray for the lost and confused who reject God's plan for marriage. Good Saints

Ann and Joachim please defend our Church as the attacks against God's design for

a holy and sacred definition of marriage continue. Open people's hearts to accept

true unity found in God's purpose for marriage that was present at the beginning

of creation.

May Christ be our strength and through your help, obtain for us holy, and blessed

marriages.

Amen.