Ann
was to be the mother of the Virgin Mother of God, and hence nature
did not dare to anticipate the flowering of grace. Thus nature
remained sterile, until grace produced its fruit. For she who was to
be born had to be a first born daughter, since she would be the
mother of the first-born of all creation, in whom all things are held
together.
Joachim
and Ann, how blessed a couple! All creation is indebted to you. For
at your hands the Creator was offered a gift excelling all other
gifts: a chaste mother, who alone was worthy of him.
And
so rejoice, Ann, that you were sterile and have not borne children;
break forth into shouts, you who have not given birth. Rejoice,
Joachim, because from your daughter a child is born for us, a son is
given us, whose name is Messenger of great counsel and universal
salvation, mighty God. For this child is God.
--
Saint John Damascene from a sermon