Prayers to Saints Anne and Joachim

Despite the scarcity of historical information and the fact that the names of Joachim and Anne, Mary’s parents and Jesus’ earthly grandparents, are not mentioned in the Gospels but are cited in the Protoevangelium of James - a well-known apocryphal book - the liturgical history of these two saints is truly interesting; many popes, in fact, addressed it. Saint Anne, however, is far more popular than Joachim, and there is no hospital ward in the obstetrics department without a statue of Saint Anne adorned with ever-fresh flowers, just as fresh flowers are brought to new mothers. Such is the devotion to Jesus’ holy grandparents that we ask our readers for their active cooperation in sending us material about these two saints. To pray with this little booklet, the Rosary of the Holy Family and the Holy Grandparents is required.