Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of Mary and Grandparents of Jesus.

"Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20: 12).

Friday of the 16th week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what the Church says about Anne and Joachim:

"It was in the house of Joachim and Anne that the Virgin Mary received her training to be the Mother of God. Thus, devotion to Anne and Joachim is an extension of the affection Christians have always shown toward our Blessed Mother. We, too, owe a debt of gratitude to our parents for their help in our Christain formation." (Roman Missal).
Our 1st Reading today gives us a commandment with a promise:

"Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

Jesus obeyed Joseph and Mary:
"He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them." (Luke 2: 51).

"O Lord, God of our Fathers,
who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son, grant, through the prayers of both, that we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." (Collect, Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne).

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