Today's Saints that we remember and honor is St Joachim and St. Anne. They are the parents of the Blessed Mother. They were holy and devout, righteous in the eyes of God. Their only wish is to have descendants. They often wondered if they had done something to offend God, and why the Lord had made St. Anne's womb barren. Little they did realize that God was testing their faith and trust.

Neighborhood families would show mercy to them. By letting Joachim and Anne babysit for their children. Joachim and Anne shower the children with gifts and kisses. Anne made them her favorite honey cakes. She would tease them by asking the children: “What will you give me in return?”

She laughs joyfully and holds them close her heart. “And what are you going to give me now?”

The children clapping their little tiny hands will respond: “Kisses, Kisses, I will give you kisses, Mamma Anne.”

Joachim return from his orchard, and would surprise the children with gifts. An apple, an orange, some dates. He would also ask the children: “And what about me? Is there nothing for me?” The children would run to him, and he bends down and picks them up, and they cling to his neck, ruffling his beard with their little hands and their kisses on the cheeks. Then the holy couple would let them play in the yard. As they look at the children with joy, they try to conceal the tears in their own eyes. Oh, how they wish so much to have one of their own.

Joachim would console his wife: “Don't cry, Anne. We are very happy and blessed. I know that I am blessed because I have you.” You are God's gift to me. God is good to us, and has given us each other.

Anne responded: “Sweetheart, you are also God's gift to me. I love you, with all my heart. I'm so sorry that I have not given you a child. I must have done something to offend God.”

Joachim replied: “Honey, that is nonsense. How can you offend God? Listen. We will visit the Temple, and we will pray. Perhaps God will be listen to our prayers like he did for our Ancestors, Abraham and Sarah.” Anne said: “Yes dear. You're right. Let us trust in God. If the Lord provides, the offspring will belong to Him. But how wonderful it would be to hear a child calling me Mommy. And you, Daddy.”

Joachim and Anne went to the Temple to pray. At the temple, men and women were separated in different areas. It was on the last day, that something amazing happened. While Anne was praying earnestly she saw something spectacular. From inside the sacred place, she saw a light, a spark of light that emerged from the holy of holies. It was as white as the moon. It had the brightness of all the pearls and gems in the world. One of the precious stars of the Veil, the star under the feet of the Cherubim became detached, and it glowed with a bright and supernatural light. And it came forth and rested on her womb. And she felt a little heart beating repeatedly within, like a heart of a dove held in one's hand.

She went and told Joachim: “Honey, I think something amazing has happened. I think God has listened and answered our prayers. I'm not quite sure, but I think I am now a mother. Are you sure about this? Joachim responded eagerly.

Anne said: “Yes. We are so blessed. If it's a boy, we shall call him Samuel. If it's a girl, we shall name her Star. I just know that it's going to be a girl. I can feel her heartbeat. And we shall call her Mary, for she is the Star of our Sea. But after a few years of being our child, we shall offer her back to God.

I have a feeling that she's going to be very special. Anne caressed her womb, and speaks to the child: “Oh, My dear child. My lovely child.”