The Holy Family with St. Ann by El Greco
This year the fifth day of Christmas is also Holy Family Sunday - a happy coincidence since this 12-day series is exploring the relationship of Joseph and Mary with the child Jesus.
Just this evening after Mass I met Jacob, a new born whose mother came to our parish a few years ago through RCIA and whose wedding I witnessed after her initiation. Jacob was accompanied by his mom and grandparents. St. Ann, hovers over her grandson as did Jacob's gramma this evening.
Jacob's grandmother was telling me how difficult it is for her to see him leave after he's come for a visit...
He was but a baby: a son and grandson...
Did you stay, Ann, to help your daughter with her newborn?
Did your son-in-law welcome you? make you feel at home?
Did you know the mystery of this baby's birth?
Had they told you of the angel's visit to Mary?
Of the angels in Joseph's dreams?
Did you wonder, too, what would become of this small one?
Your eyes, your gaze tell me that in your heart
you knew what Mary knew...
Mothers and daughters know these things...
Your little grandson is hungry now
and he turns to his mother for nourishment...
Nourish your daughter with your presence, Ann,
and help Joseph to keep trusting in his dreams,
in his God...
It's true, Ann: a grandmother's work is never done...
As an expectant grandmother, your words rang true to me. With our first grandchild due to arrive in January, I find myself imagining my new role as grandmother and my place in his life. When raising his father I drew great comfort from St. Monica and now you have given me St. Anne as a model for my life as a grandmother. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteRuthie: you've taught me some new vocabulary: expectant grandmother!
ReplyDeleteI also see that you use the French spelling for Anne - probably an ancestral influence!
In paintings of the Holy Family two women frequently make an appearance: St. Anne or St. Elizabeth. Elizabeth, of course, is the mother of John the Baptist and you can always tell if it's Anne or Elizabeth by looking for another little boy in the painting - that would be Jesus' playmate, his cousin (or some degree of kin), John!
But stick with Anne as your new patron saint: she's the grandmother!
Ruthie,
ReplyDeleteI became a grandmother for the first time just one year ago...there is nothing like it and nothing prepares you for seeing the "child of your child"... it simply overwhelms you... you will relish every second and never be able to get enough of this precious gift...
It is also a joy to see your children grow as a family..to see the rituals and traditions that they each bring from their families of origin to their own new family...
I had never thought of Saint Ann as a prayer companion on theis journey of grandparenting...I guess I have a capacity for missing the obvious!! Thanks to Concord Pastor for bringing Jesus' grandmother to the forefront and thanks to you Ruthie for pointing out "our" patron saint!!
Thanks for your comments, Ned. I have already seen growth in my son and truly enjoy watching him and my daughter-in-law as they prepare for the baby.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I never thought of St. Anne as a grandmother, but rather as the mother of Mary. Leave it to Concord Pastor to put it together for us!