Very little is known about her life, as there is no specific mention of her in the Bible. Most of the information about her comes from apocryphal texts and traditions. Here are some key points about Saint Anne:
1. Birth and Lineage:
According to the apocryphal Gospel of James, Anne was the daughter of Matthan, a priest, and his wife Mary. She was from Bethlehem and was related to the house of David through her father.
2. Marriage to Saint Joachim:
Tradition holds that Anne married Joachim, a pious man from Nazareth. They were both advanced in age and had been childless for many years.
3. The Birth of Mary:
After years of prayer and supplication, Anne and Joachim were blessed with a child. The birth of Mary, their only daughter, was a miraculous event that brought them immense joy and fulfillment.
4. Early Life of Mary:
Saint Anne and Saint Joachim raised Mary in Nazareth, teaching her the ways of God and instilling in her a deep faith and love for the Lord.
5. Veneration:
Although there is limited information about her life, Saint Anne is highly revered in Christianity and is considered a saint. She is often depicted in art and literature as a loving and devoted mother of Mary and a symbol of maternal love.
6. Patronage:
Saint Anne is considered the patron saint of mothers, women in labor, grandparents, and seamstresses. Many churches and schools are named after her, and her feast day is celebrated on July 26 in the Catholic Church and on December 9 in the Eastern Orthodox Church.