The Gospels of Matthew and Luke trace Jesus’ family line through his legal ancestry, showing that he is the fulfilment of God’s promises. Yet we know very little about Mary’s own parents. Apart from the fact that they existed, there are no historical details about them. Even the names Joachim and Anne come from an early Christian writing composed more than a century after Jesus’ death, rather than from Scripture itself.

Even so, we can glimpse the holiness of Mary’s family through the person she became. Whether we consider the later traditions about her childhood or simply reflect on what the Bible tells us about her, Mary stands out as the fruit of generations of faithful people who lived lives of prayer and were deeply rooted in the faith of Israel.

Mary’s courage, her life of prayer, her obedience to God’s will, her faith in times of uncertainty, and her loving care for others all point to a close, faithful family. It was a family that treasured its traditions while preparing the next generation to serve God.

In this way, Joachim and Anne represent the countless ordinary men and women who quietly lived out their faith, fulfilled their responsibilities, and created the conditions in which the Messiah could come into the world. Though history remembers little about them, their hidden faithfulness played a vital part in God’s plan.