THE EARLY MARRIED LIFE OF JOACHIM AND ANNE

The Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Their Life and Faith

A Devotional Account from the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich

The following narrative is based on the recorded private revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a 19th-century Catholic mystic.

Joachim and His Lineage

In her visions, Anne Catherine Emmerich described Joachim as a man of humble and unassuming appearance. He was not physically impressive by worldly standards. He was described as short and broad, yet lean, with a simplicity that reflected neither vanity nor concern for outward beauty. Although deeply holy and devoted, he bore no external signs of grandeur. His piety, rather than his appearance, marked his true dignity.

In contrast, Saint Joseph — though no longer young — was described as strikingly handsome in comparison. The family lineage, according to Emmerich’s account, connected them through the house of David. Joseph’s grandfather, Matthan, descended from David through Solomon. After Matthan’s death, his widow remarried Levi, who descended from David through Nathan. Through this lineage came Heli, also known as Joachim.

This ancestral detail was presented not merely as genealogy, but as part of the unfolding providential history within which both Joachim and Anne would later be understood.

Marriage Customs of the Time

According to the visions, courtship in those days was modest and restrained. Suitors were often shy and formal. Marriage was seen less as romantic pursuit and more as a sacred and familial responsibility. If a young woman consented, her parents rejoiced; if she declined for valid reasons, the family accepted her decision with peace.

When families reached agreement, the betrothal took place in the synagogue. The priest prayed before the sacred scrolls of the Law, while the families stood in their customary places. The couple themselves would speak privately about their intentions and responsibilities. Once they confirmed their agreement, the priest received their declaration. The wedding followed the next day, celebrated outdoors with solemn ceremony.

The Marriage of Joachim and Anne

Joachim and Anne were married in a modest settlement with only a small school and a single priest present. Anne was about nineteen years old at the time of her marriage. They lived initially with Anne’s father, Eliud, whose house stood near Sephoris among a group of dwellings.

Their early married life was marked by dignity and serenity. Though still young, both were described as possessing an unusual seriousness. They were not sorrowful, but carried themselves with calm gravity. Their manner was peaceful and restrained.

They were well provided for materially. Their households included flocks, herds, servants, fine woven carpets, and carefully crafted vessels. Yet despite their prosperity, they lived simply and devoutly.

Their Charity and Way of Life

One of the most striking aspects of the vision was the description of their generosity. They divided their herds and goods into three portions:

The best portion was given to the Temple.
The second best was given to the poor and to relatives in need.
The least desirable portion they retained for themselves.

This practice was repeated consistently. They lived modestly, without extravagance, and gave freely to those who asked. Emmerich described how their goods seemed always to increase despite their constant generosity, symbolizing the spiritual principle that charity brings abundance of grace.

They did not host lavish banquets. When family gathered, they often sat in simple circles speaking about divine matters. Their joy was contemplative rather than festive.

Even when met with hostility from jealous neighbors, they responded with kindness, inviting them into their home and sharing generously.

The First Child

Their first child, a daughter named Mary (often referred to as Mary Heli), was born after some difficulty. According to the account, the birth was overshadowed by distress related to an unfortunate incident involving a servant. Anne blamed herself for the servant’s suffering and carried deep sorrow in her heart.

Though the child survived and was cherished, Anne felt inwardly that something remained unfulfilled. The prophetic signs she believed were associated with a promised child were absent. This caused her spiritual distress, and she interpreted her continued barrenness as a sign to deepen her penitence.

For many years afterward, Anne remained without further children. She intensified her prayers, almsgiving, and acts of penance. Both she and Joachim embraced periods of continence and lived in profound devotion.

Separation and a New Beginning

After living for several years in Anne’s father’s house, they decided to begin anew in a property inherited from Joachim’s parents, near Nazareth. They hoped that a quieter and more secluded life might better dispose them toward God’s blessing.

The relocation was described in vivid detail: servants carefully packing delicate vessels with moss for protection; embroidered rugs folded and secured over beasts of burden; flocks and herds led in orderly procession. Their new home lay in pleasant hills west of Nazareth, surrounded by orchards and fields.

The house itself was spacious and divided by woven partitions into various rooms — a large front hall, inner chambers, sleeping quarters, and a prayer alcove. A central hearth stood beneath a smoke opening in the roof. The structure combined simplicity with quiet beauty.

A Life of Prayer and Expectation

In their new home, Joachim and Anne began what Emmerich described as a renewed dedication to holiness. They continued dividing their possessions in three parts, giving generously to the Temple and the poor.

They slept in separate rooms and devoted themselves to prayer and self-denial. Joachim was often seen praying alone in the fields among his herds. Anne frequently withdrew into quiet supplication.

For nineteen years after the birth of their first daughter, they lived in this spirit of yearning and trust. Neighbors mocked them for their childlessness, suggesting that their daughter had been adopted. Such accusations wounded them deeply, yet they responded with patience and humility.

Anne’s sorrow was compounded by social humiliation, as barrenness was regarded as a reproach. Still, she maintained hope, convinced inwardly that the promises of God were near fulfillment.

Their portion of goods kept for themselves gradually diminished as their giving increased. They lived ever more simply, clothed sometimes in penitential garments, offering their longing to God in quiet perseverance.

Spiritual Character

Emmerich described Joachim as robust though small in stature, and Anne as delicately formed, her grief visible in her hollowed cheeks. Yet both radiated an interior nobility born of faith.

Their life was not dramatic but steadfast — a testimony to constancy, humility, and trust in divine providence.

Reflection

This devotional account presents Joachim and Anne not merely as historical figures, but as models of patience and perseverance. Their story emphasizes generosity in adversity, fidelity in humiliation, and hope in long waiting.

While private revelations are not articles of faith, they have inspired meditation on the quiet virtues that prepare the way for great mysteries in salvation history.

In this portrayal, the holiness of Joachim and Anne is seen not in extraordinary spectacle, but in daily charity, simplicity, and enduring trust.

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