Have you ever flipped through the pages of your Bible searching for the names of Saints Joachim and Anne? You might be surprised to find that their names do not appear anywhere in the canonical Bible we hold today. Yet, early Christian history was far from silent about them. Details of their lives come to us through early traditions; most notably the 2nd-century Protoevangelium of James and the 3rd-century Gospel of the Nativity of Mary.
The word Protoevangelium literally means ‘the First Gospel’ because its account takes place before the events of the four Gospels, capturing the story before Christ’s birth. While not included in the official Bible, this early Christian writing preserved cherished traditions about the origins of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the names of her holy parents.
According to these ancient traditions, Anne (from the Hebrew Ḥannah) was born in Bethlehem and later married Joachim. Though they lived a devout and generous life in Nazareth, they carried the deep heartbreak of childlessness. When Joachim was publicly shamed at the Temple because of his sterility, he retreated into the wilderness to fast and pray. Heartbroken by her husband’s absence and her own barrenness, Anne wept before the Lord, solemnly promising that if she were blessed with a child, she would dedicate that child entirely to God’s service.
God heard their faithful cries. An angel appeared to both Joachim and Anne, announcing that they would conceive a daughter whose name and life would be known throughout the world. In great joy, Anne gave birth to a baby girl and named her Mary. True to her vow, when Mary was just three years old, Joachim and Anne brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem, entrusting her to the Lord’s care.
While sacred art often highlights only the young Virgin Mary, the truth remains: Mary was raised in a real home, by loving parents whose extraordinary faith laid the quiet groundwork for God’s plan. The Church honors Joachim and Anne because their devotion helped shape the heart of the woman who would one day say “Yes” to becoming the Mother of God.
Their story reminds us that salvation history is built not only through grand, public miracles, but through the quiet, persevering faith of ordinary families. Though absent from the pages of the Bible, their legacy spread throughout the early Church, giving us the feast day we celebrate today, July 26.
Today, as we honor the grandparents of Jesus, let us thank God for our own grandparents and elders who silently pray for us, shape our values behind the scenes, and pass down the faith through their daily, unseen prayers.