Saints Joachim and Anne Novena

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Sts. Joachim and Anne were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Very little is known for certain about the two of them. Despite the scarcity of recorded information about them, we can infer a lot about them through what we know about their holy daughter. 

Sts. Joachim and Anne must have been a very holy married couple. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy couple in your life

About Sts. Joachim and Anne

The little information that is known about Sts. Joachim and Anne comes mostly from the Gospel of James, which was an apocryphal document from the second century with an uncertain origin. Though the Church does not consider this so-called Gospel to be the inspired Word of God, the document does give us some information about the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It says they were named Joachim and Anne.

According to this Gospel of James, Joachim and Anne suffered for many years because they desired to have a family but remained childless. It says that Anne promised to dedicate any child she had to God. An angel eventually appeared to them when they were very old, and the angel promised them that they would have a child. This child was the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Though Mary’s Immaculate Conception was the true cause of her total sinlessness, it can also be inferred that Sts. Joachim and Anne must have raised her in a holy manner during her childhood. Not only did Mary avoid sin her entire life, but she also showed great devotion and virtue throughout her entire life. Sts. Joachim and Anne were most likely excellent examples of virtue and devotion to her during her childhood. 

Tradition also says that Mary was presented to God in the Temple when she was young. This means that Joachim and Anne fulfilled their promise to dedicate their child to God. This act of dedicating Mary to God also shows that they were grateful that God had answered their prayers, and that they wished to praise Him for performing what seemed to be an impossible work in their lives.

It is also apparent from the information we know about Mary and Jesus from the Gospels and Tradition that Sts. Joachim and Anne must have appreciated the grace of family life. The Gospels speak of the “brothers” of Jesus, referring to His cousins. The insination that Jesus grew up among His extended family members shows that Mary was probably raised with an appreciation for family life herself and then chose to raise her Son among their relatives.

Nothing is known about the deaths of Sts. Joachim and Anne or how long either of them lived. Despite their obscurity and the lack of information that is known for certain about Sts. Joachim and Anne, their holiness and devotion was very significant for salvation history as the grandparents of Our Lord.

Sts. Joachim and Anne’s Feast Day: July 26th

Why Pray the Sts. Joachim and Anne Novena?

Sts. Joachim and Anne are the patron saints of grandparents. You can ask them to pray for you if you are a grandparent or are going to become a grandparent. You can also ask them to pray for someone else who is a grandparent, or you can ask them to pray for your grandparents.

St. Anne is also the patron saint of mothers and women in labor. You can ask her to pray for you if you are a mother or are in labor. You can also ask her to pray for a mother or laboring woman whom you know.

St. Joachim is also the patron saint of fathers. You can seek his intercession if you are a father, or you can ask him to pray for a father whom you know.

You can pray the Sts. Joachim and Anne Novena for any intention!

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena Prayers

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 1

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You they showed throughout their married life together.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, God chose you for a very special mission together in your married life. You followed God’s plan for you and served Him faithfully.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so faithfully!

Though you probably did not know fully what God had planned for your marriage, you did your best to follow His will and to carry out the duties of your married vocation in holiness.

Pray for me, that I may serve God as faithfully in my vocation each day as you did. Pray that I may always respond generously to God’s call in my life, no matter where He leads me.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 2

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You they showed throughout their sufferings of infertility.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, you were eager to live out your vocation as a married couple fully. You longed for a child but suffered from infertility for many years. Despite this suffering, you continued to serve God faithfully.

Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!

God saw your sufferings, and He heard your prayers for a child. He answered your prayers after many years, and you became the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pray for me, that I may never grow discouraged when I face sufferings. Pray that I may remain faithful no matter what difficulties or trials I might face.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 3

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue they showed in continuing to hope despite many years of suffering.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, you longed to serve God through parenthood in your marriage. Despite years of childlessness, you continued to ask God for a child and persevered in hope.

Please persevere in bringing my petitions before the throne of God!

Even though you grew to be very old, you did not waver in your hope that God would answer your prayers. He eventually rewarded your faithfulness by making you the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pray for me, that I may grow in the virtue of hope. Pray that I may never give in to despair, no matter how much I might suffer.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 4

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You they showed in faithfully carrying out their duties as parents.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, you prayed for a child for many years. When God eventually answered your prayers and made you the parents of Our Lady, you did all you could to raise her faithfully.

Please do all you can to bring my petitions before the throne of God!

You chose to dedicate Mary to God in the Temple when she was young. You raised her to be virtuous and set a holy example for her.

Pray for me, that I may always seek to be a holy example to others. Pray that I may do all I can to lead others to holiness.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us! 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 5

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue they showed in their deep trust in You.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, you prayed that you might conceive a child for many years. Even though you were advanced in age when an angel told you that you would conceive, you did not waver in your trust in God.

Please do not waver in bringing my petitions before God!

We do not know for certain if you understood the significance of your mission as the parents of the Mother of God. But we know that you faithfully did all you could to raise Mary to be virtuous and holy.

Pray for me, that I may be as faithful a servant of God as you were. Pray that I may always trust in God, even when I don’t fully understand His plan.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 6

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You they showed in striving for a holy family life centered around You.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, we know few details for certain about your life. But as you set about the important task of raising the Blessed Virgin Mary, you must have taken great care to center your family life around God.

Please take great care to bring my petitions before the throne of God!

You were holy examples to Mary in the family life that you shared with her. You helped her to become a virtuous servant of God.

Pray for me, that I may always do all I can to lead others to God. Pray that I may be eager to serve God in every aspect of my life.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 7

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue they showed in their gratitude to You for answering their prayer for a child.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, you longed to be parents for many years. You remained childless until you were advanced in age, but you persevered in asking God for a child.

Please persevere in bringing my petitions before the throne of God!

When God answered your prayers and you conceived Mary, you were very grateful to God for His great blessing. You chose to dedicate Mary to God in the Temple out of gratitude.

Pray for me, that I may always be grateful to God for His blessings in my life. Pray that I may never take for granted God’s many gifts in my life.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 8

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You they showed in cultivating a holy family life.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, you were grateful and happy to be able to raise your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary. You did all you could to give her a holy upbringing and family life.

Please do all you can to bring my petitions before the throne of God!

You must have raised Mary with an appreciation for the gift of family, as she went on to raise her Son among their extended family members.

Pray for me, that I may always appreciate the gift of family in my life and in the world. Pray that I may do all I can to contribute to the holiness of those around me.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne Novena - Day 9

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Sts. Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue they showed in their holy and humble lives.

Sts. Joachim and Anne, we know very few details about your lives for certain beyond that you were the parents of Mary. Despite your obscurity, we know that you must have lived virtuous lives and served God faithfully.

Please continue to bring my petitions before God Whom you served so faithfully!

You were entrusted with the very important task of raising the Mother of God. You carried out this task with humility and holiness.

Pray for me, that I may grow in virtue each day of my life. Pray that I may always be eager to serve God in whatever ways He calls me to.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.