St. Joachim Novena
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Show HideSt. Joachim, the father of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandfather of Jesus, is a powerful intercessor for anyone longing to grow in faith and trust in God. Though he and his wife, St. Anne, suffered the pain of childlessness for many years, they remained steadfast in prayer and were blessed to become the parents of Mary, prepared by God to be the mother of the Savior.
Many turn to St. Joachim for help with family needs, for patience in trials, and for encouragement in raising children in the faith. Ask for the intercession of this faithful man so that you may draw closer to God’s will and so that he will teach you to trust God’s timing in your life.
About Saint Joachim
St. Joachim holds a unique and honored place in salvation history as the father of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandfather of Jesus Christ. Though the Scriptures do not mention him by name, his legacy is deeply rooted in the ancient Christian tradition and revered by both the Eastern and Western Churches.
According to tradition, Joachim and his wife, St. Anne, were a devout and faithful Jewish couple who longed for a child but remained childless for many years. In a time when childlessness was seen as a sign of divine displeasure, Joachim faced great sorrow and shame. However, despite their suffering and their longing for a child, Joachim and Anne were known for their generosity and devotion, as they divided his income into thirds: one part for the Temple, one for the poor, and one for his family.
According to tradition, after being turned away from the Temple because he had no children, Joachim withdrew into the wilderness for forty days, fasting and praying with a broken heart. At the same time, Anne was also praying fervently at home.
God heard their cries, and an angel appeared to each of them, announcing that they would conceive a child—a daughter destined for a unique role in God’s plan. That child would be Mary, who from the first moment of her existence was preserved from sin and prepared to become the mother of the Messiah.
Joachim returned home rejoicing, and in due time, Anne gave birth to Mary. Tradition holds that Joachim and Anne dedicated her to the Lord and took her to the Temple when she was very young. While many details of their daily life are lost to history, what remains is a powerful witness: a home marked by faith, obedience, and readiness to cooperate with God’s will, even in the midst of mystery and long suffering.
While many details about St. Joachim’s life remain hidden in the mists of early Christian tradition, what is remembered and celebrated is his steadfast faith, his trust in God during trials, and his role in preparing the way for the Incarnation. He is a model of fatherhood, virtue, and quiet strength—a man who fulfilled his vocation with humility and devotion.
Saint Joachim’s Feast Day: July 26th
Why Pray the Saint Joachim Novena?
St. Joachim is the patron saint of fathers, grandfathers, grandparents, and married couples. He is a powerful intercessor for those called to family life, especially for those who have stepped into the role as grandparent and want to continue to lead their children and grandchildren to the Lord.
St. Joachim is also the patron saint of cabinet makers and linen traders, so if you or someone you know works in these trades, you can invoke the intercession of this great saint.
Along with his wife Anne, St. Joachim is a powerful intercessor for couples facing fertility challenges. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties conceiving a child, pray to St. Joachim.
You can pray the Saint Joachim Novena for any intention!
St. Joachim Novena Prayers
St. Joachim Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, during your lifetime, you experienced heartache and sorrow over unfulfilled desires, yet you remained faithful. You trusted in God’s perfect timing and in His great generosity, and you were rewarded with one of the most precious gifts God could give: the Blessed Mother.
Bring me to God and help me surrender myself into His loving care. Increase my trust in the Lord so that I may see Him as a Father who never fails to keep His promises to His children.
Teach me patience and steadfast hope; help me to remain faithful especially in times of trial and suffering so that when all things pass away, I may come face-to-face with your adorable grandchild and remain with Him forever.
Pray for me, that I may grow as close to Jesus and Mary as you were during your life and also for the special intention for which I am offering this novena:
[Mention your intention here].
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, in times of distress you moved closer to God through prayer and sacrifice rather than turning from Him. Instead of growing frustrated, you preserved in prayer, waiting confidently in the Lord.
Teach me how to persevere like you, so that I may always be steadfast in hope and confident that my prayers are heard by my Heavenly Father—a Father who loves His children with a deep and abiding love.
During times of difficulty or waiting for an answer to my prayer, stay with me. Stay before me as a model I can follow so that I may joyfully accept God’s will for my life.
Pray for me, that I may grow as close to Jesus and Mary as you were during your life and also for the special intention for which I am offering this novena:
[Mention your intention here].
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, despite becoming a father in your old age, you embraced this role with your whole heart and lived it out with profound virtue, which is why you were chosen to father the mother of Our Redeemer.
I look to you now as a spiritual father, one who will protect and guide me as you did your own daughter so that I may grow to be more like her and her Son Jesus Christ.
Today I ask you in a special way to intercede for those called to be fathers—both physically and spiritually. Teach them how to love those souls entrusted to their care and how to lead their children to the Lord, where they may always remain.
Help them live out their vocation with faithfulness and integrity.
Pray especially for the fathers in my life and for the special intention I bring to you with this novena:
[Mention your intention here].
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, your marriage to your wife, good St. Anne, offers a profound example of the sacredness of marriage. You grew with one another in holiness, and the fruit of your union brought into the world the Immaculate Conception, the Mother of God.
Pray for all married couples and for the couples preparing for marriage, that they might follow your example in their vocations by creating homes and establishing families where God’s light dwells.
Strengthen these husbands and wives and support them so that they may grow in patience, love, and devotion to God. Teach them to be open to life and to joyfully welcome the children God places in their care.
May they, like the Blessed Mother, learn from you how to live their vocations well and with God at the center.
Pray also for the special intention I place in your care this day:
[Mention your intention here].
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, though you lived a righteous and upright life, you experienced scorn and rejection because of the cross you carried. Rather than despair, you turned to God more fervently in prayer, looking to the source of our hope for strength in the face of suffering.
Today I bring to you all those who feel rejected, alone, or burdened by life’s challenges and ask you to pray for them with the same zeal with which you prayed during your lifetime. Give them courage and hope in times of sorrow so that they may continue to see God’s light even when the darkness of despair threatens to overtake them.
Pray for a swift resolution to the problem that causes them pain and that through this time of suffering they are brought close to your adorable grandson, Jesus.
I also ask for prayers so that when I find myself in a challenging or painful season that you will be there for me in the same way to give me comfort and the knowledge of God’s deep and abiding love.
Pray also for the intention that I bring to you today:
[Mention your intention here].
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, alongside your wife Anne, you raised your daughter in the ways of the faith. Your dedication to this task helped prepare her for her unique vocation as mother of our Redeemer and mother of all the faithful.
Your home was a place of prayer and holiness, the soil that nurtured the Mystical Rose and allowed her to blossom.
St. Joachim, protector of family life, watch over my home and family and help us follow your example in love. Keep us close to God as we move through our life so that we may find ourselves together in the home of our Heavenly Father.
Intercede for parents and children so that all families may be schools of virtue, love, and faith. May we, like you, raise the next generation to know and love God.
Pray also for the special intention I hold in my heart today:
[Mention your intention here]
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, tradition remembers your profound generosity to God and His people. You took care to share much of your income with the Temple and those in need.
May your example guide me to give freely and joyfully, trusting that God will multiply even the smallest acts of charity.
St. Joachim, model of generosity and faithful stewardship, inspire my heart to share the gifts God has given me. Help me to serve others with love, to care for the poor, and to support my family with a spirit of selflessness. Teach me to live as you did, offering my time, talent, and treasure for the glory of God.
Pray for me, that I may be detached from all worldly possessions and live my life for God alone. Intercede also for the intention I commend to your care:
[Mention your intention here]
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, by raising your daughter in purity and faith, you helped prepare her for her “yes” to God. The “yes” that would change the world forever.
Your hidden faithfulness reminds us that small acts of obedience and love prepare the way for God’s work in the world.
St. Joachim, faithful father, help me to remain faithful to the work God calls me to, no matter how small, doing it all to the best of my abilities and with sincere love. Prepare my heart each day to receive God’s will. Teach me to live with humility and obedience so that Christ may be born anew in me and in the hearts of all whom I encounter.
Pray that I may follow the example of your perfect daughter and join you in heaven when my time on earth is done.
Pray also for the special intention I hold in my heart today:
[Mention your intention here]
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joachim, faithful servant of God, devoted father of the Blessed Virgin, and grandfather of Christ, when your wife conceived your miraculous child, you might not have wholly understood the special role your daughter would have in God’s plan for salvation. Yet you trusted the word of the angel and submitted yourself fully to God’s mysterious and wonderful plan. In this, you stand as a powerful example of trust in God, whose wisdom far surpasses our own.
St. Joachim, you embraced God’s plan, even when you could not see the fullness of His design. Help me follow your example in embracing my own unique role in the story of salvation. Teach me to offer my life to the Lord, submitting myself to His will without reserve.
Pray for me, that I may surrender my life entirely to God’s will, confident that He is guiding all things toward salvation.
Pray also for the special intention I hold in my heart today:
[Mention your intention here]
St. Joachim, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.