July 26, 2006
Parents
Ss Anne and Joachim make the calendar today, not by name, of course, but by their presumed good fortune as the parents of the BVM. One wonders whether they knew Mary’s conception was all that immaculate [and by what evidence] or whether that strange notion was thought up down the line when Rome began tidying up the parameters of her life by rounding it off at the other end with their assumption of her Assumption.
When our children are born, we parents probably ponder mostly what kind of life they’ll have, not how their lives might affect ours. [As an aside, though almost in the same vein, Hubert Humphrey seemed to enjoy telling that behind every successful man stands a surprised mother-in-law.]
When my daughter and eldest son were in their late teens, early twenties, whenever I’d meet a new someone at church, they might ask me if I had a daughter. If I’d meet someone in a bar or at a cocktail party [where I was as often if not more], they’d usually ask about whether a son. I always thought it was rather peculiar, though I was pretty sure why. The two progeny in question take little joy in my telling about it which I don’t much any more.
Anne and Joachim surely had similar [maybe analogous is a better word] experiences as they made the rounds. As well, they must have had their moments wondering about their young daughter taking up with the old carpenter and telling that tale about meeting a matchmaker named Gabriel under such strange circumstances.
Later on, of course, they’d have every reason to be proud parents, as am I these days, though not quite for the same reasons. As well, not every set of grandparents can make their kinds of claims. On the other hand, I can’t recall ever meeting any who didn’t try a Hail Mary pass at it, anyhow.