St. Ann and St. Joachim

This time the Holy Spirit moved the priests in the Temple to accept Joachim's offerings courteously, and several of his friends congratulated him. Then two priests led him into the Holy Place and left him there alone, after burning incense on the altar. While Joachim prayed on his knees with his arms extended, a bright angel appeared to him and told him that his childlessness was not a disgrace but an honor, for the child who was to be born of his wife would be the most perfect flower of the race of Abraham. Next the angel took him into the Holy of Holies, anointed his forehead, and gave him a certain mystic blessing which freed him from all sensuality. Then he led him back to the Holy Place and vanished as Joachim sank to the floor in an ecstatic trance. Soon the priests found him thus and revived him with marks of respect. When he recovered consciousness, his face was radiant with spiritual joy and he seemed considerably younger. He told the priests that he wanted to meet his wife at the Golden Gate, and they showed him the way, which led through a long, beautifully decorated and well-lighted underground corridor.

St. Ann had just made her offering in another part of the Temple, and she told a priest that an angel had ordered her to find her husband at the Golden Gate. Accompanied by several devout women (among whom was Anna the Prophetess), St. Ann was taken to the same corridor.

Thus it happened that near the Golden Gate St. Joachim suddenly perceived his beloved wife coming toward him, her beautiful face shining with joy. They hastened toward each other and embraced with tender emotion.

Then each told the other what had happened, and together they gave fervent thanks to God for His marvelous answer to all their prayers. As they now renewed their vow to offer their child to His Temple, they seemed to be rapt in a holy ecstasy. A cloud of heavenly light enfolded them, while a great number of angels hovered above them. St. Ann and St. Joachim became luminous. Never had a human couple achieved such supernatural purity of soul. Then suddenly the heavens opened up and the Blessed Trinity looked down with joy and love on this saintly pair and gave them a special blessing.

Later St. Ann and St. Joachim left Jerusalem and returned to their home near Nazareth, where they gave a great feast for the poor and distributed alms abundantly.

Now they were both transfigured with fervor, happiness, and intense gratitude. And very often as they prayed together they wept tears of joy and love.

Thus did Almighty God prepare and purify Mary's good parents until the great day at last came when the glorious mystery of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God took place.

"It is a truth that I was conceived without Original Sin and not in sin. A golden hour was my conception. My Son joined my father and my mother in a marriage of such chastity that a purer union has never been seen. Sensuality was extinguished in them. Thus my flesh was formed through divine charity. "

The late Raphael Brown was a well known author and secular Franciscan who wrote and translated many Catholic and Franciscan Works. The above article is an excerpt from his book, The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics, Tan, 1991.