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Excerpts of THE
STORY OF SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE
As revealed
to Venerable Maria de Agreda
Excerpts from “The Mystical City of God” Book 1, Chapter 5
The
posterity and race of Adam spread out in great numbers, for the just and the
unjust were multiplied; likewise did increase the clamors of the just for the
Redeemer, and the transgressions of the wicked in demerit of that benefit. …
When
the ancient serpent had infected the whole earth with its poisonous breath and
apparently enjoyed peaceful control over mortals who had become blind to the
light of reason (Rom. 1, 20) and to the precepts contained in the ancient
written law, when, instead of seeking the true Divinity, men set up for
themselves many false laws and each one created a god for himself according to
his liking, … when by these errors malice, ignorance and forgetfulness of the
true God had become naturalized; … when pride reigned supreme and fools had
become innumerable (Eccles. 9, 15); … when, through these injuries, God was
more and more deeply offended and less and less beholden to man; when his
justice had such an excellent cause for annihilating all creation and reducing
it to its original nothingness … the Most High directed his attention to the
attribute of his mercy … and chose to
yield more to his own goodness, to the clamors and faithful services of the
just and the prophets of his people, than to his indignation at the wickedness
and sins of all the rest of mankind.
In
this dark night of the ancient law, He resolved to give most certain pledges of
the day of grace, sending into the world two most bright luminaries to announce
the approaching dawn of the sun of Justice, Christ our Salvation. These were Saint
Joachim and Anne, prepared and created by especial decree according to His own
heart.
St.
Joachim (Heli in Luke 3:23) had his home, his family and relations in Nazareth, a town of Galilee.
He, always a just and holy man and illumined by especial grace and light from
on high, had a knowledge of many mysteries of the holy Scriptures and of the
olden Prophets. In continual and fervent prayer he asked of God the fulfillment
of his promises, and his faith and charity penetrated the heavens. He was a man
most humble and pure, leading a most holy and sincere life, yet he was most
grave and earnest, and incomparably modest and honest.
The
most fortunate Anne had a house in Bethlehem and was a most chaste, humble and
beautiful maiden. From her childhood she led a most virtuous, holy and retired
life … She had an infused knowledge of the divine Scriptures and a profound
understanding of its hidden mysteries and sacraments. In the infused virtues of
faith, hope and love she was unexcelled. Equipped with all these gifts, she
continued to pray for the coming of the Messiah. Her prayers were so acceptable
to the Lord, that to her He could but answer with the words of the Spouse:
"Thou hast wounded my heart with one of the hairs of thy neck" (Cant.
4, 9). Therefore, without doubt, saint Anne holds a high position among the
saints of the old Testament, who by their merits hastened the coming of the
Redeemer.
This
woman also prayed most fervently, that the Almighty deign to procure for her in
matrimony a husband, who should help her to observe the ancient law and
testament, and to be perfect in the fulfillment of all its precepts. At the
moment in which saint Anne thus prayed to the Lord, his Providence ordained,
that saint Joachim made the same petition: both prayers were made at the same time
before the tribunal of the Holy Trinity, where they were heard and fulfilled,
it being then and there divinely disposed, that Joachim and Anne unite in marriage
and become the parents of her, who was to be the Mother of the incarnate God. …
The archangel Gabriel was sent to announce it to them both.
To
saint Anne he appeared in visible form, while she was engaged in fervent prayer
for the coming of the Savior and the Redeemer of men. … He said to her: "…
His Majesty has heard thy petitions and He wishes thee to persevere therein and
that thou continue to clamor for the coming of the Redeemer. It is His will,
that thou accept Joachim as thy spouse, for he is a man of upright heart and
acceptable to the Lord … Continue thy prayers and thy supplications and be not
solicitous for anything else, for the Lord will see them fulfilled. Walk in the
straight paths of justice and let thy soul’s converse be in heaven. Continuing
to pray for the Messias, be thou joyful in the Lord, who is thy salvation."
With these words the angel disappeared, leaving her enlightened in many
mysteries of holy Scriptures, and comforted and renewed in spirit.
To
saint Joachim the archangel … spoke to the man of God in sleep as follows:
"Joachim, be thou blessed by the right hand of the Most High! Persevere in
thy desires and live according to rectitude and perfection. It is the will of
the Almighty, that thou receive Anne as thy spouse, for her the Lord has
visited with his blessing. Take care of her and esteem her as a pledge of the
Most High and give thanks to his Majesty, because he has given her in thy
charge." In consequence of this divine message saint Joachim immediately
asked for the hand of the most chaste Anne and, in joint obedience to the
divine ordainment, they espoused each other…
...
The two holy spouses lived in Nazareth, continuing to walk in the justification
of the Lord. In rectitude and sincerity they practiced all virtue in their
works, making themselves very acceptable and pleasing to the Most High and
avoiding all blemish in all their doings…
…
They lived with each other in undisturbed peace and union of heart, without
quarrel or shadow of a grudge. The most humble Anne subjected herself and
conformed herself in all things to the will of Joachim: and that man of God,
with equal emulation of humility, sought to know the desires of holy Anne,
confiding in her with his whole heart (Prov. 31, 11), and he was not deceived.
Thus they lived together in such perfect charity, that during their whole life
they never experienced a time, during which one ceased to seek the same thing
as the other (Matt. 27, 20). But rather as being united in the Lord, they
enjoyed His presence in holy fear. Saint Joachim, solicitous to obey the command
of the angel, honored his spouse and lavished his attention upon her.
This
fortunate couple passed twenty years of their married life without a child. In
those times and among the people of the Jews this was held to be the greatest
misfortune and disgrace. … But the Most High wished to afflict them and dispose
them for the grace which awaited them, in order that in patience and submission
they might tearfully sow the glorious fruit, which they were afterwards to
bring forth. They continued in most fervent prayers from the bottom of their
hearts, mindful of the command from on high. They made an express vow to the
Lord, that if He should give them issue, they would consecrate It to his
service in the temple of Jerusalem.
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…
It happened by divine inspiration and ordainment, that Joachim was in the
temple of Jerusalem offering prayers and sacrifices for the coming of the
Messiah, and for the fruit, which he desired. Arriving with others of his town
to offer the common gifts and contributions in the presence of the high priest,
Isachar, an inferior priest, harshly reprehended the old and venerable Joachim,
for presuming to come with the other people to make offerings in spite of his
being childless. Among other things he said to him: "Why dost thou,
Joachim, come with thy offerings and sacrifices, which are not pleasing in the
eyes of God, since thou art a useless man? Leave this company and depart; do
not annoy God with thy offerings and sacrifices, which are not acceptable to
Him." The holy man, full of shame and confusion, … hastened away from the
temple full of sorrow, though peaceful and contented, to a farm, which he
possessed, and there in solitude he called upon the Lord for some days, praying
as follows:
"Most
high and eternal God, on whom depends the whole existence and the reparation of
the human race, prostrate in thy living presence, I supplicate thy infinite
goodness to look upon the affliction of my soul and to hear my prayers and those
of thy servant Anne. To thine eyes are manifest all our desires (Ps. 37, 10)
and if I am not worthy to be heard, do not despise my humble spouse. … Since
Thou commandest me, my Lord to pray to Thee in confidence, grant me, according
to the greatness of thy mercy and power, that which at thy wish I pray for. In
beseeching Thee I fulfill thy will and render the obedience, in which Thou hast
promised to grant my petition. If my sins hinder the exercise of thy mercies,
take away what displeases and hinders Thee. … If it is Thy pleasure to yield to
my petition, and grant me a child, I will offer it and consecrate it to Thy holy
temple in perpetual service..."
While
Joachim was making these petitions in his retirement, the holy angel manifested
to holy Anne, that her prayer for a child, accompanied by such holy desires and
intentions, was pleasing to the Almighty. Having thus recognized the will of
God and of her husband Joachim, she prayed with humble subjection and confidence,
that it be fulfilled:
"Most
high God, my Lord, Creator and Preserver of the universe, whom my soul reserves
as the true God, infinite, holy and eternal! … Give us holy fruit of the womb,
in order that we may offer it to Thy service in the temple (Gen. 18, 27). … Hear
then, O sweetest Lord and Master, my humble petition: remember the sacrifices,
offerings and services of my ancestors and the favors, which thy almighty arm
wrought in them. I wish to offer to Thee, O Lord, an oblation pleasing and
acceptable in thy eyes: but the greatest in my power, is my soul, my faculties
and inclinations given to Thee, and my whole being. … If it should be Thy
pleasure and good will to look upon this lowly and impoverished creature, and
to console Thy servant Joachim, grant me my prayer and may in all things be
fulfilled Thy holy and eternal will."
…
The petitions of the most holy Joachim and Anne reached the throne of the Holy
Trinity, where they were accepted and the will of God was made known to the
holy angels. … The holy archangel Gabriel descended from the vault of Heaven
and appeared to holy Joachim, while he was in prayer, saying to him:
"Just
and upright man, the Almighty from His sovereign throne has taken notice of thy
desires and has heard thy sighs and prayers, and has made thee fortunate on
earth. Thy spouse Anne shall conceive and bear a daughter, who shall be blessed
among women (Luc. 42, 48). The nations shall know her as the Blessed. ... Love
has softened the heart of the Almighty, and has hastened his mercies, and in
his liberality He wishes to enrich thy house and thy family with a daughter,
whom Anne shall conceive; the Lord himself has chosen for Her the name of MARY.
From her childhood let Her be consecrated to the temple, and in it to God, as
thou hast promised. She shall be elected, exalted, powerful and full of the
Holy Ghost; on account of the sterility of Anne her conception shall be
miraculous; She shall be a daughter wonderful in all her doings and in all her
life. Praise the Lord, Joachim, for this benefit and magnify Him, for in no
other nation has He wrought the like. Thou shalt go to give thanks in the
temple of Jerusalem and in testimony of the truth of this joyful message, thou
shalt meet, in the Golden Gate, thy spouse Anne, who is coming to the temple
for the same purpose. Remember that marvelous is this message, for the
Conception of this Child shall rejoice heaven and earth."
In
the meanwhile the thrice blessed Anne was exalted in prayer and divine
contemplation… [An angel of the Lord appeared to her and said:]
"The
humility, faith and the alms of Joachim and of thyself have come before the
throne of the Most High and now He sends me, his angel, in order to give thee
news full of joy for thy heart: His Majesty wishes, that thou be most fortunate
and blessed. He chooses thee to be the mother of Her who is to conceive and
bring forth the Only begotten of the Father. Thou shalt bring forth a daughter,
who by divine disposition shall be called MARY. She shall be blessed among
women and full of the Holy Ghost. She shall be the cloud that shall drop the
dew of heaven for the refreshment of mortals (III Kings 18, 44): and in her
shall be fulfilled the prophecies of thy ancestors. She shall be the portal of life
and salvation for the sons of Adam. Know also that I have announced to Joachim,
that he shall have a daughter who shall be blessed and fortunate… Go now to the
temple to give thanks to the Most High for having been so highly favored by His
powerful right hand. In the Golden Gate thou shalt meet Joachim, where thou
wilt confer with him about this tiding. Thou art the one, who art especially
blessed of the Lord and whom He wishes to visit and enrich with more singular
blessings. In solitude He will speak to thy heart and there give a beginning to
the law of grace, since in thy womb He will give being to her, who is to vest
the Immortal with mortal flesh and human form. In this humanity, united with
the Word, will be written, as with his own blood, the true law of Mercy."
…
Immediately arising she hastened to the temple of Jerusalem, and there found
saint Joachim, as the angel had foretold to them both. Together they gave
thanks to the Almighty for this wonderful blessing and offered special gifts
and sacrifices. They were enlightened anew by the grace of the Holy Spirit,
and, full of divine consolation, they returned to their home.
