St. Joachim Coloring Page
This St. Joachim coloring page shows the father of the Virgin Mary as a kind old man with a white beard, holding a lamb, with young Mary beside him and sheep grazing in the hills behind. The PDF is free to print. Joachim and his wife Anne are the grandparents of Jesus.
The story of St. Joachim
Jesus had a grandpa! His name was Joachim, and he was the father of the Virgin Mary.
The Bible does not tell us about him, but a very old Christian story does. It says that Joachim was a good and generous man who loved God. He gave part of everything he had to God and part to the poor. But Joachim and his wife, St. Anne, had no children, and that made them very sad.
One day Joachim brought a gift to the Temple, and a man there told him he could not offer it, because he had no children. Joachim felt so sad that he did not go home. He went out into the hills with the shepherds and their sheep, and he prayed and fasted for forty days and forty nights.
Then an angel came to Joachim and told him that God had heard his prayer. He and Anne would have a child! Joachim hurried home, and Anne ran to meet him at the gate of the city. They hugged each other with great joy.
Soon a baby girl was born, and they named her Mary. Joachim and Anne loved her and taught her to pray. Mary grew up to be the mother of Jesus. That makes St. Joachim a patron of grandfathers and of fathers. We celebrate Joachim and Anne together on July 26.
What to color
- Joachim's robe and cloak: green, brown, red or purple, as painters often showed him.
- His beard: white or light gray, because he was an old man.
- The lamb and sheep: white, for his gift to God and his days with the shepherds.
- Young Mary: a white or light blue dress.
- The shepherd's staff: brown.
- The hills: green, with the city gate in tan or gray, where Joachim and Anne met.
A prayer to pray together
On the feast of Joachim and Anne, the Church asks God at Mass that "through the prayers of both," we may reach the salvation he has promised. Children can pray:
St. Joachim and St. Anne, pray for us, and bless all grandfathers and grandmothers.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on July 26 and give it to a grandfather or an older man you love.
- The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is the fourth Sunday of July. Call or visit a grandparent that day.
- Ask a grandparent to tell you a story about when they were young.
- Make a family tree, with Jesus, Mary, Joachim and Anne at the top.
- Talk about it: Joachim kept praying even when he was sad. What can you keep praying for?
Read the full story: St. Joachim in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Joachim?
Artists often give Joachim a green or brown robe with a red or purple cloak, and a white or gray beard. Color young Mary in white or light blue, the lamb white and the hills green.
Why is St. Joachim holding a lamb?
In the old story of his life, Joachim brought a lamb to the Temple as an offering and later went out to pray among the shepherds and their flocks. Artists like Giotto painted him with a lamb in his arms.
Is St. Joachim in the Bible?
No. The Bible does not name Mary's parents. Their names, Joachim and Anne, come from a very old Christian writing from the 2nd century called the Protoevangelium of James.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.