By Jen Cox
Every year on July 26, the Church pauses to honor Sts. Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus. Not much is known about their lives, but their role in salvation history speaks volumes. With their feast day coming up, I’ve been reflecting deeply on how holy, healthy marriages leave a long-lasting impact; not just on a single couple, but on generations.
As I reflect on their quiet, faithful witness, I can’t help but think about the importance of unity in marriage and how deeply it affects a child’s ability to flourish, to live a life that is filled with hope and confidence in the Lord. I wonder if Mary’s fiat came so easily because she experienced this firsthand. She trusted herself; she trusted God. I didn’t grow up in a home with that kind of unity. My parents divorced when I was young, and while I had love from both of my parents, the loss of their love together caused a deep ache and wound.
That experience has shaped me, and, in many ways, has deepened my longing for the kind of love Joachim and Anne must have shared. A love rooted in trust, fidelity, and a shared desire to follow God. The kind of unity that creates a safe and sacred space for children to grow in spirit, mind, and body.
That kind of unity – even imperfect – lays a foundation of peace, security, and identity in a child’s life. It teaches them what love looks like in action: in forgiveness, in shared prayer, in the way parents support one another through the ups and downs. This is how the Lord created marriage to be; this is how He intended children to learn about love Himself. When spouses are united, children are free to flourish spiritually, emotionally, even physically. When there is a disruption, it can plant seeds of doubt, lies about who we are or where we belong and lack of hope for the good things God has in store for us. And while not every family story includes that unity from the start, the witness of Sts. Joachim and Anne remind us that faithfulness, even in quiet and unseen ways, can- and does- bear fruit across generations.
As we honor Sts. Joachim and Anne, may we be inspired to pursue unity- in our marriages, our families, and our communities. Whether we come from a place of deep-rooted love or have known the pain of brokenness, God is always at work healing, restoring, and inviting us into something new. Unified love, even in small, daily choices, is a powerful witness to our children and to the world. It creates space for true flourishing: in spirit, mind, and body. May these hidden saints intercede for our families and help us become the kind of people who pass on the legacy of holy love.
