ST. ANNE, OUR PARISH PATRON
The patron of a parish is very important to that community of
faith, because the patron saint's life reflects the ongoing hope and reality of
daily Christian living -- that an ordinary person can become one with Jesus here on
earth and accomplish wonderful things through His grace. Our patron is St. Anne,
whose feast is July 26. She was the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus
Christ.
Anne and her husband, Joachim, were rich and very devoted to God. Nazareth was their home. Though married many years, they had no children. The Jewish people believed that the inability to have children was a punishment from God. For this reason, Joachim felt unworthy to offer sacrifice in the temple. He was deeply saddened and retreated to the mountains to pray for God's forgiveness. Anne prayed in her home, begging God to give her a child. She promised God if she were to give birth, she would dedicate the child to His service.
Although Anne was thought to be past childbearing years, her prayers and those of Joachim were heard. An angel came to Anne and said, "The Lord has looked upon your tears. You will give birth to a daughter, and she will be honored by all the world." The angel made the same promise to Joachim.
A daughter was born to Anne and she called her Miriam, Hebrew for "Mary." Anne and Joachim offered their child to God in the services of the temple while Mary was very young.
Anne means "grace" in Hebrew. God endowed St. Anne with special grace to be the mother of the Mother of God. Anne is the patron of mothers, children and housewives. Her prayers in intercession to Jesus are very powerful. After all, Jesus was her grandson. Anne's virtuous life was surely a great influence on Mary, and thus on Jesus on the everyday level of His human life.