A Day for St Ann and the Mi'kmaq

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts to celebrate Saints Joachim and Ann, parents of Mary. In Cape Breton, some evidence is visible of the special devotion of the Mi’kmaq people to St Ann as grandmother of Jesus. The passage from the Book of Sirach “Hymn in Honour of Our Ancestors” also reflects the important role of the ancestor in Mi’kmaq spirituality. Matthew’s gospel offers special note to those ancestors who longed for but who have not seen or heard what those who lived with Jesus saw and heard. Mi’kmaq spirituality recognizes the importance of the spiritual presence of the ancestors to guide life today. The Christian creed of the “Communion of the Saints”, all present, past and future members of the Body of Christ is another parallel with the Mi’kmaq approach. Of course, the practice of Christianity has over the century been enriched by the spiritual culture of the people who have accepted Christian belief. The Celtic influence for example has been huge in the timing of feasts and festivals, symbols like the wreath and the Celtic cross. Robert A. Campbell of the Department of Social Science of the University College of Cape Breton (Cape Breton University) offers an overview of the development of Catholicism among the Mi’kmaq. The Aroostook Band of Micmacs, located in Presque Isle Maine, have presented a discussion of the role of ancestors in Mi’kmaq culture.