How was Mary prepared to parent Jesus? Who mothered Mary? Whose love made it possible for her to love her son, the Son of God?
Tradition has identified Anne as Jesus’s grandmother and Joachim as her grandfather. There are many images of Anne at Chartres, including in the large central lancet window under the north rose where she holds her daughter.
Love is passed from generation to generation. It touches and forms us, just as it touched God.
Scriptural Touchstone
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.” (Paul to Timothy) 2 Timothy 1:5 NRSV
Invitation to Pray
Bring to mind your mother’s mother, or another significant relative whose love has touched and formed you. Identify and then give thanks for the ways in which that love has helped you become who you are.
If this is too difficult, pray that love will flow from you to others in your family.
Photos
These images are from the central lancet window (1235) under the rose window in the Chartres Cathedral in France.
The second photo on this page can be found on page 15 in Chapter One of Visions of Mary: Art, Devotion, and Beauty at Chartres Cathedral.
To Explore Further
Look inside Visions of Mary (Introduction and Chapter One). Available at Amazon, Paraclete Press, and Barnes and Noble.
Interested in buying the book in volume? Contact Sister Estelle at Paraclete Press for pricing options.
To see more images from Chartres, visit Jill’s website on the Chartres Cathedral.
Posts with images shown in Visions of Mary: Art, Devotion, and Beauty at Chartres Cathedral (1) The Blue Virgin Window at Chartres; (2) Looking Towards God; (3) Notre Dame de Chartres; (4) An Angel’s Perspective; (5) Mary’s Example; (6) Questioning; (7) Really?; (8) Wrapped in Love; (9) Devotion; (10) Lifted; (11) There’s More…; (12) Celebrating Life; (13) Blessing; (14) Silent Grief; (15) Embodied Support‘ (16) New Ways of Looking; (17) How Are We All Related?
Pray with Jill Geoffrion 
I love this! Oddly (or not) it was St Anne who I turned to for comfort when Kirsten died, as much as (or possibly more than) Mary. I found her all over Paris that year and spent a lot of time with her.
These are such lovely photos! And as always, I am stirred by your reflections.
The Way of the Rose will be praying a 9 day novena for her from 18 to 26 July… I pray her chaplet for my family nearly every day. Who knew I was heading in that direction??
Much love! Your blog post will be with me this week!
Kimberly
On Fri, 10 Jul 2020 at 23:03, Pray with Jill Geoffrion wrote:
> Jill K H Geoffrion posted: ” How was Mary prepared to parent Jesus? Who > mothered Mary? Whose love made it possible for her to love her son, the Son > of God? Tradition has identified Anne as Jesus’s grandmother and Joachim as > her grandfather. There are many images of Anne at Ch” >
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