Saints Joachim and Anne: Parents of the Virgin Mary
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Saints Joachim and Anne hold a cherished place in Catholic tradition as the parents of the Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus Christ. Although the Bible never names them directly, centuries of devotion have shaped their story into one of faith, patience, and quiet holiness. Every year on July 26, the Church honours Saints Joachim and Anne with a joint feast day, celebrating their role as models for parents and grandparents everywhere.
Saints Joachim and Anne’s Feast Day and Origins
The Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of Saints Joachim and Anne on July 26. Their names never appear in the canonical Gospels. Instead, most of what the faithful know about them comes from the Gospel of James, an apocryphal text written around 150 AD. Although early Church leaders such as Jerome and several popes expressed skepticism about this writing, it’s stories about Mary’s parents spread widely and shaped centuries of devotion regardless.
According to that tradition, an angel promised Joachim and Anne a child after years of childlessness. In turn, the couple consecrated their daughter, Mary, to God. Because no verified historical records confirm these details, scholars continue to debate their accuracy. Nevertheless, the Church has long agreed on one certainty: Mary needed parents, and Christian tradition holds that Joachim and Anne raised her with extraordinary devotion.
Saints Joachim and Anne in Early Christian Tradition
Interestingly, Anne’s story closely mirrors that of Hannah, the biblical mother of Samuel, who also struggled with infertility before conceiving. This parallel likely influenced how early Christians shaped Anne’s narrative. Devotion to Anne began appearing in Eastern Christianity as early as the sixth century, and by the twelfth century, growing devotion to her helped lay the groundwork for the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The Eastern Orthodox Church honours Joachim and Anne with the title “Ancestors of God.” Additionally, several related feasts, including the Nativity of Mary and the Presentation of Mary, developed from this same tradition. Meanwhile, in Western Christianity, veneration of Anne grew more slowly, though shrines eventually emerged in places like Douai, France, and Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec.
Devotion, Relics, and Sacred Art
Over time, devotion to Saints Joachim and Anne spread throughout Christian art and pilgrimage traditions. Alleged relics of Anne traveled from the Holy Land to Constantinople in 710, and later, returning crusaders brought additional relics to churches across Europe, including sites in France and Germany. Since 1506, the city of Düren, Germany, has served as a major pilgrimage destination for her relics.
Artists frequently depicted the couple in a scene known as “The Meeting at the Golden Gate,” showing Joachim and Anne embracing after learning of Mary’s coming birth. Anne also appears often in artwork teaching young Mary to read Scripture, and she is traditionally shown wearing red and green, symbolizing love and life. Her emblem, a door, further reflects her enduring role in Christian iconography.
Patronage and Global Devotion
Because Saints Joachim and Anne are recognized as ideal parents, the Church calls on their intercession for many groups. Anne, in particular, serves as patroness of expectant mothers, housewives, grandmothers, educators, and even cabinet-makers and miners. This last patronage grew from a medieval comparison between Mary’s womb and precious metals drawn from the earth.
Their influence reaches far beyond Europe. Cities and regions from Brazil to the Philippines, and from Quebec to Spain, claim Saints Joachim and Anne as patrons. Notably, the famous Basilica of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré in Canada still draws large crowds every year, especially around her feast day.
A Lasting Example for Families
Even outside Catholic tradition, Anne holds meaning for other faiths. In Islam, she appears as the mother of Mary in the Quran, though she remains unnamed there and is instead called “the wife of Imran.” Her prayerful longing for a child, followed by her graceful acceptance of a daughter instead of a son, reflects deep spiritual trust across religious traditions.
Ultimately, Saints Joachim and Anne continue to inspire families today, not because history can fully verify their story, but because their example still resonates. As grandparents of the Redeemer, they represent quiet, faithful love passed from one generation to the next.
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