Traditional Feast of St. Joachim

St. Joachim.  Statue in the Dominican Church of Friesach, Austria.

St. Joachim is, according to venerable tradition, the father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and thus, the grandfather of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

"The holy Patriach Joachim was the husband of St. Anne, and the father of our Lady.  This feast, originally kept on March 20, was transferred to this day following the Assumption, in order to associate the Blessed Daughter and her holy father in triumph." [The Daily Missal, Baronius Press, 2007, pg. 1439]

Of course, although today is his traditional feast since the time of St. Pius X, it is combined with St. Anne, on 26 July, in the calendar of 1970.

Still, considering his honored role, and historic feast on this date, St. Joachim certainly merits his own blog post!

For more on St. Joachim:
Old Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Joachim

Catholics Saints Info: St. Joachim

"Joachim and Anne, how blessed a couple! All creation is indebted to you. For at your hands the Creator was offered a gift excelling all other gifts: a chaste mother, who alone was worthy of him. Joachim and Anne, how blessed and spotless a couple! You will be known by the fruit you have borne, as the Lord says: “By their fruits you will know them.” The conduct of your life pleased God and was worthy of your daughter. For by the chaste and holy life you led together, you have fashioned a jewel of virginity: she who remained a virgin before, during, and after giving birth. She along for all time would maintain her virginity in mind and soul as well as in body. Joachim and Anne, how chaste a couple! While leading a devout and holy life in your human nature, you gave birth to a daughter nobler than the angels, whose queen she now is."  Sermon of St. John of Damascus, (+750AD), from the patron saint site above.

This blogger has had the opportunity to visit a rather beautiful Church of St. Joachim in Quebec.  Here is the website of that municipality, also bearing the name of the saint: Municipality of St. Joachim in Quebec, Canada

So, pray for the intercession of St. Joachim, and remember to pray for your grandfathers today!

Live well!