The Diocese of Orlando recognized the feast day of Sts. Anne and Joachim, Jesus' grandparents, Tuesday by asking for the saints to intercede on our behalf.

“Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and patron saints of grandparents, pray for us!” the diocese posted on social media.

Sts. Anne and Joachim are the parents of Mary and the maternal grandparents of Jesus. Britannica reports that Anne and Joachim are celebrated as the patron saints of grandparents each year on July 26. Anne is also the patron saint of women in labor.

St. Anne's life mirrors the life of Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, in some respects. Hannah’s life is described in the Old Testament, Britannica adds. St. Anne had trouble conceiving a child, so she prayed to God and promised that if she could have a child, she would dedicate her to the service of the Lord. An angel subsequently visited Anne and Joachim and said they would give birth to Mary.

The Bible makes no mention of Sts. Anne and Joachim, so the few things that are known about their lives comes from non-scriptural writings and legends, Catholic.org says. Sources agree, though, that Mary had good and faithful parents who raised her to love and serve God.

The legacy of Sts. Anne and Joachim serves to remind Catholics of the important role grandparents play in the family unit, a National Shrine article explains. It cites a quote from Pope Francis: ”Sts. Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith!”