Saturday July 26, 2014

Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saint Anna with Theotokos and Christ Child - Kathleen Anderson - 1990 Copyright © 1993-2004 Kathleen Anderson

Saint Anna with Theotokos and Christ Child - Kathleen Anderson - 1990
Copyright © 1993-2004 Kathleen Anderson

Anne is not mentioned in the Bible, but there are stories about her in a second-century document called the Protoevangelium of James.  This non-biblical gospel of James tells of Anne and her husband Joachim who, although they longed and prayed for children, were childless for 20 years.  Anne's story echos the Old Testament story recorded in 1 Samuel 1:1 to 2:8 of Hannah who was also granted a cherished child after many long years of waiting.  (Anne is from the Hebrew, Hannah, meaning grace or favour).

Images of Mary and Jesus were common from the early days of Christianity; Anne began to be added to paintings and sculptures in northern Europe in the late 13th century.  A popular grouping depicts Mary holding the Christ child on her lap while Mary sits on her mother Anne's lap.

You may wish to ponder this icon and wonder, in prayer, how this "nesting" of mother/grandmother, daughter/mother, and grandchild/child speaks to you today.  

Lord God,
the Source and Goal of all creation,
we bless you for your servant Anne,
whose daughter Mary was the Mother of our Lord.
Grant us grace in our succeeding generations
to honour the gift of life,
that young and old together
may learn the love
whose fruit is life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
From "For All the Saints", The Anglican Church of Canada