In the early 1950s, my mom was unmarried and mid-thirtysomething - thought to be an advanced age for a woman called to be a wife and mom. With a few lady pals in similar straits, my mom made a pilgrimage to that grand shrine in Quebec with a famous prayer of the era in mind: "Good Saint Ann, Find Me a Man."
Good Saint Ann, Find Me a Man
"An ancient story dating to the first centuries of the Church’s life recalls how Saints Anne and Joachim, like Abraham and Sarah, were scorned by their neighbors because they had no children.
"Years of longing did not weaken their trust in God, but grief eventually drove Saint Joachim into the wilderness to fast and pray. Saint Anne, remaining at home, dressed in mourning clothes and wept because she had no child of her own. Seeing her mistress distressed, a servant girl reminded Anne to put her trust in God. Saint Anne washed her face, put on her bridal clothes and went to a garden to plead with God for a child.
"Angels appeared to Saint Anne in her garden and Saint Joachim in the desert, promising that, despite their old age, they would give birth to a child who would be known throughout the world. The new parents ran to meet one another at Jerusalem’s Golden Gate, and with a kiss rejoiced in the new life which God had promised would be theirs.
"Saints Anne and Joachim are powerful intercessors for all married couples, expectant mothers and married couples who are having difficulty conceiving, as well as all who have grown old" (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops).
In 1955, my mom's prayers for a "good man" were answered, when she married an Irish immigrant who happened to be small of stature but gigantic in character. In 1956, one of my mom's co-pilgrims married my dad's cousin! At last count, there are sixteen of us walking around from those answered prayers of women thought to be nearing the close of their child bearing years.
What is my take away from this? Well, Jesus and His saints absolutely care about our seemingly mundane marriage and family concerns. Marriage/Family are the usual routes through which He calls people to Himself! Through an act of incredible holiness, exclusively reserved for husband and wife, husbands and wives are called to cooperate in God's very act of creation! Let me say that again, as it is so awesome: husbands and wives are called to cooperate in God's very act of creation! If we truly, truly appreciate this, we can understand why this act must be guarded with absolute respect and awe.
The USCCB's NFP Awareness Week [July 24 - 30]
"The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25) which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26 [See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072614.cfm]), the parents of the Blessed Mother" (USCCB).- Quick Explanation re Catholic Teaching and Contraception
- Alliance Natural Family Planning Network
- How "The Pill" works as an Abortifacient
- How the Pill Kills
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