Feast of St Joachim


Anna solet dici tres concepisse Marias,
Quas genuere viri Joachim, Cleophas, Salomeque.
Has duxere viri Joseph, Alpheus, Zebedeus.
Prima parit Christum, Jacobum secunda minorem,
Et Joseph justum peperit cum Simone Judam,
Tertia majorem Jacobum volucremque Johannem.

Anna is usually said to have conceived three Marys,
Whom her husbands Joachim, Cleophas, and Salome begot.
These [Marys] the men Joseph, Alpheus, and Zebedee took in marriage.
The first bore Christ; the second bore James the Less,
Joseph the Just, with Simon [and] Jude;
The third, James the Greater and the winged John.
From the Golden Legend

The picture shows St Gabriel announcing to St Joachim that St Anne will concieve Our Lady. A pre-Annunciation!

Comments

Brian Murphy said…
I haven't seen this painting - it's very interesting.

I don't think enough attention is given to Mary's parents. As chosen to be the grandparents of Our Lord, they must have been a very holy couple. Grandparents are very special!

God bless!