Saints Joachim and Anne

For years July 26th was a special Marist day, for it was the date on which the postulants took the habit and the novices pronounced their first vows. For many Marists today, this feast day, once the feast of St. Anne, patroness of the American province, marks their anniversary of entrance into the congregation. In 1959, the date for taking the habit and first vows was changed to August 15th, the Solemnity of the Assumption.
Little is known of the lives of Joachim and Anne, other than the tradition that they were the parents of Mary. We surmise that they raised their daughter in full accord with the traditional ways of Judaism, and thus reinforced her holiness already well in place as the result of her Immaculate Conception and future Motherhood of God. They remain models for today's families as their home was a school for holiness, that is a home where love of each other and love of God, shown by family prayer, living the Scriptures and weekly worship were non-negotiables. They send out a call to families and Marist communities to put God at the center of life and activity and to stand firm against the encroachment of materialism and secular values and attitudes. May they help us draw closer to Mary their daughter and her Son, Jesus.
Bro. Rene
Note that for the next week, slices of Daily Bread may appear only sporadically. I'll do my best, but am at the mercy of my host in Bal Harbour, Florida.