Susan Bagshaw: St. Anna (detail)
By Rev. Susan Bagshaw
MONTHS AGO, I was approached about a memorial for our church. 'Of course I'll do it' I said. 'It would be an honour.'
After some discussion about the why and the what between the priest, the patron and myself, we agreed on a subject. The harder part was writing the homily for the day the icon was dedicated, December 8, 2024, and it went something like this...
Nonna, Gramma, Grandmother, Mimi, Gigi, Bubbe, Grand-mère, Oma, Savta, Grannie among others... I am sure you all had, or have, a special name for your grandmother. It is special because of the relationship you shared or continue to share with that person.
“If I were to ask you what the name of Jesus' grandmother was, who could answer?” This question posed to the congregation met me with a silent response. Perhaps some knew but were uncomfortable in providing an answer in front of everyone. So, I continued. “Anna” or “Anne” came my response.
We don't often think – if ever – that Jesus had a grandmother and it seemed to come as a surprise to some , but of course Mary would have had a mother and father. They just didn't get mentioned in the Bible as we know it. They are, however, named in the non-canonical writings of the Gospel of James and we know them by name as Anne and Joachim.
SAVTA is the Hebrew word for grandmother and what little we might know about her is based on some much later accounts with perhaps some details that may or may not be factual added in about her life. To be honest, she would not have made it on anyone's radar as simply Anne, wife of Joachim, had her child Mary have not become the mother of God, Jesus the Christ Child.
Legend says that Anne was unable to conceive a child and was the subject of ridicule from the women in her community as was her husband for not being able to contribute to the 'offspring of Israel'. Joachim was not allowed to attend public worship as a result and Anne was shunned. Their pain was exacerbated by their communities. So both Anne and Joachim went off to pray for a child and God sent a message through His angel Gabriel to Anne - “Anne, Anne, the Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive and bear a child, and your offspring shall be spoken of in all the world.”
We know the child as Mary. Anne, this Savta, whose own life modelled prayer, love and humility raised Mary and taught her the scriptures and prepared her - rather unknowingly - to be the mother of God's son by opening her heart and faithfully listening and responding to the voice of God's messenger by saying “yes”. We know the rest.
Anne is known as the patron saint of grandparents, mothers, married couples and those who are infertile. It is, as any mother or parent knows, a difficult responsibility to raise a child if you are blessed to have them, and help raise grandchildren – again a blessing but not a guaranteed one. This is where grief and heartache led a grandmother to me. The loss of a child.
Grandmothers have a love that knows no bounds. As a grandmother myself I know this. It is everlasting, without ceasing. One such grandmother came to us seeking a way to do 'something' to honour and remember her grandchild who passed before she came into this world and was able to know the depth and breadth of her grannie's love. The grannie's name was Wendy and her granddaughter's name was Jennifer. Jennifer left the world the same day she entered it – July 19, 2003. A long time ago, but clearly never forgotten by Wendy and she wanted to do something to remember her by and let her know she is still loved dearly by her Grannie.
As work on the icon progressed, we also discovered another member of our congregation was still suffering the same kind of unimaginable loss and pain and desired some way to express it. Sammie Collin and Jenna Rose also left this world before they were able to know the immense love that their grandma, Mary Ellen, had for them as well.
I believe it was nothing short of divine intervention that these two Savtas met and connected under the roof in our parish and were able to share their stories, their grief and their feelings with one another. This was now a collaborative effort from both grandmas to put into some tangible way a physical representation of the love of two grannies for the grandchildren they were unable to see grow, cuddle, read to, bake cookies for, and champion their interests.
Jennifer would now be 21. Sammie would be 25. Jenna Rose would be 22. They remain forever babies in the eyes of their grandmas and although the years have rolled by they are clearly not forgotten.
As mothers, Wendy and Mary Ellen watched as their own children suffered through these incredible losses and must have had a feeling of helplessness knowing there was no salve they could put on the wound to heal the pain – except to be there and share in their grief. There is still heartache. There are permanent scars. There is also unending love for their grandchildren that joined them together on this healing journey.
She may not be mentioned in the Bible but had it not been for St. Anne and the way in which she taught Mary growing up, Mary may not have been chosen to bear the Christ Child. - pure speculation of course - we know God had a plan - but the immense influence and importance of this woman cannot be overstated. Anne, the mother of Mary and the Savta, Grannie and Grandmother of Jesus.
I feel a deep and profound sadness that Wendy passed so unexpectedly November 17th and she did not see the finished icon that was just days away from completion. She was keeping a close eye on my progress all along and we texted pictures that very day. I am sure she was looking down on us as our community gathered and dedicated the icon in honour of Jennifer, Sammie and Jenna Rose.
Thank you Wendy and Mary Ellen for allowing me to be part of this healing journey with you and for sharing the immense love of your grandchildren with us all as we dedicated the icon that hangs appropriately in the Lady Chapel at St. John's in their memories.
We have an icon of St. Anne, The Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus the Christ Child.
We have an icon of a grandmother, a mother and a child.
Love flows down.
Rev. Susan Bagshaw is Deacon at St. John's, Cambridge.
**The last names of the families have been omitted in respect for their privacy.