today we celebrate the memorial of saints joachim and anne the parents of our lady
and we see in these two saints that they are completely unique among the saints completely
unique among holy parents because the immaculate conception is their offspring this was a natural
conception that took place in the natural way but it was a miraculous conception
because the child was conceived without sin and was full of grace
and so the immaculate conception took place in the womb of saint anne and we can presume
that the holy spirit would have filled her with special heavenly joy and consolation
this is very real
reasonable since the mere visit of our lady to saint elizabeth filled her with the holy spirit
so how much more saint anne when the immaculate conception takes place in her womb and she
carries our lady in her womb not a mere passing visit to her home but carries her in her womb
for nine months
they would only have our lady that is saints joachim
and anne would only have our lady for a few short years before presenting her to the temple
but again we can only imagine what those years were like of carrying our lady in their arms
on a day-to-day basis you know we have the expression when parents have a cute child they
say oh what an angel your child is okay but in the case of saints
joachim and anne they have the queen of angels for their child
how many graces
saints joachim and anne would have received
given that their child
was the mediatrix of all graces
saints joachim and anne are unique among the saints
because they have a
natural relationship
that is they are related by nature
to the blessed virgin mary being her parents
but they are also
they also have a natural relationship
with the savior
they are the grandparents of jesus christ
the son of god
and so even today
they must surely hold a principle
or a privileged place in heaven
and they must surely hold a principle
and have a special intercessory power
and so we entrust ourselves to their prayers
saints joachim and anne pray for us
Ad nos convertem
Et es dum benedictum
Fructum ventris tui