Saint Ann, Grandmother of God

Most of the depictions of St. Ann in statues, art and holy cards show her as a mother with her daughter, Mary as a child. Frequently the two are shown with a book and it is clear that the mother is teaching the daughter. Perhaps Mary is reading aloud to her mother as St. Ann listens and gently corrects. Perhaps they are sharing the book, probably a prayer book, since most early books were prayer books. I love these images dearly for they are at once tender images of mother-daughter sharing and caring and at the same time images of women with a book, signifying that women could learn on the intellectual and spiritual plain long before the women's movement found us becoming physicians, lawyers, senators or ceo's.

I love the gentleness in these images, the homeliness and simplicity. We could see St. Ann teaching Mary to weave, or to cook, or to sew. We could see them sweeping together--all things that were traditional women's tasks that they undoubtedly both engaged in. Instead, we see them reading and I rejoice in this image.

Homeschooling carries this forward in today's world as does every mother who helps her daughter with her homework. Here is a model for meditation for busy mothers when you think you can't possibly do one more thing and your child needs that help.