The Lord is kind and merciful. — Psalm 103:8

Mass Readings: Exodus 33:7-11;34:5-9,28 / Matthew 13:36-43 

The Patrons of Grandparents 

St. Joachim and St. Anne were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Nothing definite is known about them — even their names come to us only from sources written well after the life and death of Jesus. Tradition tells us that they were childless for many years and that they prayed for the gift of child. They are presumed to have died before Jesus was born, or at least before He started His public ministry. 

What a blessing it is to have grandparents! What a blessing it is to be one! And beyond that, what a blessing for a family and for a parish to have both senior members and young ones! Thank God for those generations, for those who have been through so much and for those who still have so very far to go. 

Prayer: St. Joachim and St. Anne, pray for all parents and grandparents.