Discover the Novena to Saint Anne
From July 17 to 25, journey through nine days of reflection and prayer with this special novena to Saint Anne, written by Jacques Gauthier.
“May this novena draw us ever closer to Jesus and Mary through the intercession of Saint Anne, our grandmother in heaven.”
Saint Anne Novena
July 20 – Saint Anne: Listening to the Word
Is this not what Anne taught Mary – to listen to the Word and to treasure it in her heart? Many works of art, statues and paintings show Anne introducing...
VOIR PLUSJuly 19 – Saint Anne: Teacher
Mary was born into a believing family and grew up in the love of God, thanks to the example of Anne and Joachim.
VOIR PLUSJuly 18 – Saint Anne: Mother of Mary
Like all faithful Jews of their time, Anne and Joachim read the Torah, awaited the Messiah, blessed the Lord at every meal, and took part in the Sabbath and the...
VOIR PLUSJuly 17 – Anne and Joachim: A Blessed Couple
In the Orthodox tradition, Anne and Joachim are called the “righteous ancestors of God.”
VOIR PLUSIntroduction
The feast of Saint Anne (together with her husband, Saint Joachim) is celebrated in the Catholic Church on July 26. It is often preceded by a novena (nine days of prayer), which can be the high point of a pilgrimage to a shrine or holy place.
Each year, the novena continues to draw large crowds in places around the world—from Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec to Sainte-Anne-d’Auray in France —especially to the beloved pilgrimage at Lac Ste. Anne in Alberta, where a great annual Indigenous pilgrimage brings together 40,000 people in prayer, and healing along its sacred waters.
The Gospels tell us nothing about Anne and Joachim. Their names are first mentioned in a document written around the year 150, the Protoevangelium of James. Devotion to them is based not on what they did, but on who they are: the parents of Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. The faithful have naturally grown close to them, especially because of the family values they represent.
Anne has been venerated in Jerusalem since the fifth century. Devotion to her, older than that of her husband, developed alongside that of the Virgin Mary. It has steadily grown since the 14th century. “Good Saint Anne,” as she is affectionately called, continues to inspire the faith and prayer of generations of believers. Many entrust to her a member of their family or an unborn child, and seek her protection in the circumstances of daily life.
This novena is inspired by my book Saint Anne, Our Grandmother in Heaven (Novalis/Salvator, 2026, 120 pages). Each day, I reflect on a particular aspect of her life and devotion, beginning with a verse from the Word of God. I then meditate on it and relate it to our own lives, concluding with a short prayer.
May this novena, which can be prayed at any time of the year, draw us ever closer to Jesus and Mary through the intercession of Saint Anne, our grandmother in heaven.