- 26 July, 2025
July 26, 2025:
On July 26, the Church honours Sts. Anne and Joachim — the hidden yet holy grandparents of Jesus. Their lives may not fill pages of Scripture, but their legacy shaped Mary, the Mother of God, the one who would carry the Word made flesh. As we celebrate their feast, we’re not just called to admire them from a distance. We’re called to look closer — at them, and at ourselves.
Do we let their quiet strength challenge our noisy world? Do we cherish the elders in our lives as bearers of grace and wisdom? Or are we so caught up in speed, screens, and self, that we fail to see the saints living under our own roof?
1. The Hidden Power of a Quiet Legacy
Sts. Anne and Joachim lived far from the public eye, yet their faith formed Mary, the Mother of God, whose “yes” changed the course of salvation history.
Many of our grandparents, too, live without applause — yet they shape our souls in quiet, powerful ways. We often remember the smell of their kitchen, the quiet murmur of their Rosary, their firm but loving hand guiding us in our childhood. But do we take their love for granted? Do we pause to recognise the holiness in their simplicity? “When did I last thank them — or pray for them — for what they silently gave me?”
2. A Love That’s Not Rushed
While the world moves fast, our grandparents are slowing down — not just physically, but emotionally and socially. Many feel ignored or hide their suffering so as not to “bother” anyone. Yet “Honour your father and your mother” is not a suggestion — it’s a commandment. But in our rush to keep up with life, are we leaving them behind? Christ calls us to see Him in the vulnerable. Do we see Him in our grandparents? Sometimes, to truly love them, we must first slow down ourselves.
3. A Feast That Calls Us to Act
The feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim is not just about the past — it is a mirror held up to our present. It asks: Are we carrying forward the faith that our grandparents planted in us? Are we becoming, for the next generation, what they were for us? Whether our grandparents are still with us or have gone to the Lord, their impact remains. Let us not let this day pass without action — a visit, a prayer, a conversation, a memory shared with love. More importantly, let us ask: What am I doing to honour them today — not just with words, but with time, respect, and gratitude?
4. Our First Catechists
Grandparents often hold the thread that ties generations together. Through their stories and quiet witness, they pass down not just memories — but the faith itself. How many of us learnt our first prayers from them? Or saw God’s faithfulness reflected in their patient endurance? Their lives preach the Gospel, even when they don’t use Scripture. But are we letting their life and faith shape ours? Or have we become too hurried, too distracted to notice the sacred wisdom woven into their everyday stories?
5. A Role Rediscovered in Modern Families
In a world of busy schedules, broken routines, and rising pressure, grandparents often become the quiet anchors — stepping in as caretakers, mentors, and the last living catechists in the home. They do more than watch over children; they remind them to pray, to hope, to love. Yet how easily we overlook them, assuming they’ll always be around, never pausing to ask how they really are or what they truly need. Do I just gift them things but forget to give them my time? Do I see their presence as a duty to manage — or a grace to treasure?
Sts. Anne and Joachim remind us that the work of salvation often begins at home — in the unseen faith of elders, in the strength of those who pray for us long before we pray for ourselves. As we celebrate their feast, may we not only remember our grandparents but reawaken our love and responsibility toward them. Their love shaped us. The question is: How will we respond?
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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