Nazareth was a town of lower Galilee and only a short distance from Mount Carmel. It was here that the grandparents of Jesus lived, Sts. Anne and Joachim. According to St. Augustine, St. Anne was a Levite and St. Joachim was a descendant of David, so their marriage was the union of royal and priestly Jewish families, but in their elder years they were still without a child, something Jews saw as a chastisement from God for living sinful lives. Despite being righteous in the eyes of God, the Jews barred them from entering the temple because of their perceived sinfulness. Anne and Joachim turned their sorrow to God, and they were soon blessed with a daughter who would become the Mother of God.
CHALLENGE
Even Jesus had grandparents. On this day as we remember the great faith of the grandparents of Jesus, remember to honor your own grandparents. Call them, visit them, and pray for them. If you have children, have them do the same.
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Being a good husband and father starts when a man honors his wife.
In Kevin Lowry’s new delightful, easy-to-read book Honor Thy Wife, he shares a month’s-worth of stories and the lessons he learned over 35+ years of marriage.
Fr. John Riccardo says, “Please read this and give it to every married man you know!”
And Michael Hernon, President and co-founder of Messy Family Project enthused, “All married men need this book—their wives will be grateful!”
