St. Ann

 
According to tradition, the parents of St. Ann were a pious couple who lived in a small town near Mt. Carmel.  There were several children in the family but little Ann was the favorite, and rightly so because she was destined to be the grandmother of our blessed Savior.  It is very likely that, according to the custom of the time, St. Ann was presented in the Temple to be dedicated, remaining there until she later became the wife of Joachim. 
 
It is said each year, St. Ann & her husband divided their revenue into three parts – one was given as an offering to the Temple; one was donated to the poor and the third they kept for their family needs. 
 
Now in those days it was looked upon with reproach and as a sign of disfavor if a couple were not blessed with children, and after 20 years’ marriage they still had no children.  St. Ann and St. Joachim endured this humiliation with patience and prayer, petitioning our Blessed Lord to bless their marriage with offspring.  They made a vow that if they had a child they would offer it to the Temple, consecrating it to God.  God was preparing them that they might be worthy to become the parents of the Blessed Virgin, and in answer to their prayers and sacrifices a daughter was born to the gentle & good Ann.
 
St. Jerome said:  “Ann is the glorious tree from which bloomed a twig under Divine influence; she is the sublime heaven from whose heights the Star of the Sea neared its rising; she is the blessed barren woman happy mother among mothers, from whose pure womb came for the temple of God, the sanctuary of the Holy Ghost, the Mother of God.” 
 
St. Ann called her daughter “Miriam”, which is translated in English as “Mary” which means “Star of the Sea”.  At three years of age, St. Ann & St. Joachim presented the Blessed Virgin in the Temple in fulfillment of their promise.  There Mary remained until she was 15, when she was espoused to Joseph.