A listing of prayers and devotions to St. Joachim for his powerful prayers and intercession. As Catholics, we believe in the intercession of the saints, who readily pray and assist us from Heaven.
St. Joachim was the father of the Virgin Mary and husband of St. Anne, though he is not mentioned in the canonical Gospels. Most of what we know about him comes from early Christian tradition and the apocryphal Gospel of James. According to these accounts, Joachim and Anne were a wealthy but childless couple who faced public shame for their inability to conceive. After their prayers were answered with the birth of Mary in their old age, they dedicated her to God’s service in the Temple. Tradition holds that Joachim was of the house of David, making him part of Jesus’s royal lineage. He is often depicted in art embracing his wife Anne at Jerusalem’s Golden Gate, where an angel reportedly told them they would have a child, or shown with the infant Mary. His feast day is celebrated jointly with St. Anne on July 26th in the Catholic Church. Despite limited historical information, his role as the grandfather of Jesus and father of Mary has made him an important figure in Christian devotion, particularly invoked by those struggling with infertility or seeking to become parents.
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.
