WONDERFUL PARENTS
Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Ann, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
My dear encountered couples:
The Church honors today the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary today, Joachim and Anne (or Anna), for doing such a great job in raising Mary. They inspired her with deep devotion to God and love for others; they instilled in Mary the basic virtues for becoming the best mother for Jesus that the world could provide.
What a blessing it is to have good parents! But that’s something many might find themselves thinking about only on Mother’s and Father’s Day.
If we grow up with high principles and standards, if we are people who more often than not try to live moral lives, do we ever feel grateful to our parents for instilling these treasures and practices in us by their untiring words and example? If we are well educated, self-confident, and prepared to make a reasonable living in this world, do we consider ourselves self-made or do we give a lot of the credit where credit is due – to our parents?
How much of Mary’s goodness come from her mother and father? How much of her courage, stamina, and ability for long – suffering did they pass on to her? Much of what we are may not always come from our parents, e.g. bad adults can come from good parents, and good adults from bad parents, but by and large we didn’t get to be what we are and where we are just by our own labors.
Though God gave Mary special gifts and a large share of his attributes, the Church praises Mary’s parents for being what every child needs – a wonderful mother and father.
Let us not let a day go by without showing gratitude to our parents by praying for their happiness.
