Novena
Novena to Saint Anne
Nine-day novena to Saint Anne · begins 17 July, ending on the eve of the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, 26 July
Nine days of prayer to the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, kept from 17 to 25 July before her feast with St. Joachim on 26 July. Unlike most novenas this one has nine distinct received prayers, one for each day, moving from the salvation of one's soul through confidence, family life, suffering, perseverance and the sick to a final act of consecration.
Background
The names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, come to us not from Scripture but from ancient tradition, and the Church honours them together on 26 July. Devotion to St. Anne is very old in the East and was carried through the West by shrines such as Sainte-Anne-d'Auray in Brittany and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre in Quebec, where this nine-day form was long used. It is a private devotion. Each day the opening prayer, Glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion, is said first, then the prayer proper to the day, then an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be with the versicle Pray for us, Saint Anne. The prayers below are the received day-texts; the meditations are short editorial introductions.
Days
Intention
the salvation of one's soul above every temporal favour, and the sanctification of family life
Usually begun
17 July, ending on the eve of the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, 26 July
Structure
nine_days
Duration
9 days
Content subtype
full_novena