A listing of prayers and devotions to St. Anne for her powerful prayers and intercession. As Catholics, we believe in the intercession of the saints, who readily pray and assist us from Heaven.
St. Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus. According to apocryphal tradition, she and her husband Joachim were a wealthy but childless couple who suffered public shame for their inability to conceive. After years of prayer and fasting, an angel appeared to announce they would have a child in their old age. Their daughter Mary was born, and they dedicated her to God’s service in the Temple at age three, fulfilling a promise they had made. Though little else is known with certainty about her life, St. Anne became one of the most popular saints in medieval Europe, with numerous shrines and churches dedicated to her, particularly in France and Canada. She is traditionally depicted teaching Mary to read, highlighting her role in preparing Mary for her future as the Mother of God. As the patron saint of mothers, grandmothers, housewives, and women in labor, she is widely invoked for help with infertility and pregnancy. Her feast day is celebrated jointly with St. Joachim on July 26th, and she is particularly venerated at the Shrine of Ste. Anne de Beaupré in Quebec, where many miracles have been reported.
The Novena to Saints Anne & Joachim is devotion imploring the prayers and intercession of St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of the Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. Though not named in Scripture, their story comes to us through early Church tradition, which honors them as a holy, faithful couple who longed for a child for many years before God blessed them with Mary.
St. Anne is especially invoked as the patroness of mothers, grandmothers, and those hoping to conceive, while St. Joachim is honored as a patron of fathers and grandfathers. Their patient trust in God’s providence and their role in raising Mary in faith and devotion make them powerful models of holiness for grandparents, parents, and families.
St. Anne and St. Joachim’s feast day is celebrated on July 26th.
Good parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grandparents of our Savior, Jesus Christ, when life seems barren, help us to trust in God’s mercy.
When we are confused, help us to find the way to God. When we are lost in the desert, lead us to those whom God has called us to love.
When our marriage seems lifeless, show us the eternal youth of the Lord.
When we are selfish, teach us to cling only to that which lasts.
When we are afraid, help us to trust in God.
When we are ashamed, remind us that we are God’s children.
When we sin, lead us to do God’s will.
You who know God’s will for husband and wife, help us to live chastely.
You who know God’s will for the family, keep all families close to you.
You who suffered without children, intercede for all infertile couples.
You who trusted in God’s will, help us to respect God’s gift of fertility.
You who gave birth to the Blessed Mother, inspire couples to be co-creators with God.
You who taught the Mother of God, teach us to nurture children in holy instruction.
You whose hearts trusted in God, hear our prayers for . . .
(Mention your petitions now)
Pray with us for the ministry of Catholic family life. Pray with us for the ministry of Natural Family Planning. Pray with us for all who give their time, talent and treasure to this good work.
God of our fathers, you gave Saints Anne and Joachim the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain the salvation you have promised to your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus, is the patron saint of mothers, grandparents, childless people and housewives. Her feast day is July 26.
Chaplet of Saint Anne In honor of Jesus… Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
[Pray 5 times:] Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Jesus, Mary and St. Anne, grant the favor I ask.
In honor of Mary… Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
[Pray 5 times:] Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Jesus, Mary and St. Anne, grant the favor I ask.
In honor of Saint Anne… Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
[Pray 5 times:] Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Jesus, Mary and St. Anne, grant the favor I ask.
Closing Prayer: O God, be with us in our time of trial. Protect us, Lord, from every evil. Good St. Anne, you were especially favored by God to be the mother of the most holy Virgin Mary, the mother of our Savior. By your power, with your most pure daughter and her divine Son, kindly obtain for us the grace and favor that we now seek… (Mention your petition).
Please secure for us also forgiveness for our past sins, the strength to perform faithfully our daily duties, and the help we need to persevere in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen.
