Use the links below to jump to a certain day for the St. Anne Novena or scroll down to begin the novena.
- Day 1 – Grandmothers
- Day 2 – For Women Hoping to Conceive
- Day 3 – For Women in Labor
- Day 4 – For New Mothers
- Day 5 – For New Grandmothers
- Day 6 – For Homemakers
- Day 7 – For Single People
- Day 8 – For Couples
- Day 9 – Pursuit of Sainthood
St. Anne is the mother of Mary and, therefore, the grandmother of Jesus. The name Anne comes from the Hebrew word for “gracious.”
We know relatively little about St. Anne and her husband, St. Joachim. They are not mentioned in the Gospel, but we learn about them from other sources.
Over the centuries, different communities felt especially close to St. Anne.
She is especially popular in France, thanks to Jacob de Voragine’s medieval work, Golden Legend, published in 1260. To this day, the Shrine of St. Anne in France is the third major shrine in the country, along with Lourdes and Lisieux.
She is the patron saint of grandmothers, women in labor (along with St. Gianna), and those struggling with fertility issues. Miners also consider her their patron, stemming from the view that Jesus and Mary as precious gold and silver that originated from Anne’s womb.
In the 19th-century book “The Life of St. Anne,” author James Duffy refers to a legend about St. Anne’s death.
“Some pious authors have thought that at this last hour a revelation from on high allowed the holy mother of Mary to behold the glorious destinies to which Heaven called her daughter,” he wrote.
“A celestial joy illuminated her countenance as she gazed on this flory; and it was in this state of blessedness that she bowed her head and breathed her latest sigh.”
St. Anne Novena History
St. Anne and her husband St. Joachim were both acknowledged in the early Church, with a church dedicated to St. Anne dating back to the year 550.
One thousand years later, in the 1500s, Leonardo depicted St. Anne, with Mary and baby Jesus in Virgin and Child with St Anne and a Lamb, an oil painting that now hangs in the Louvre in Paris.
Devotion to St. Anne has remained popular in the centuries since.
In Massachusetts, the St. Anne Shrine has hosted a St. Anne Novena each year since 1887.
The novena to St. Anne can be prayed any time, but is most popular starting on July 18, leading up to her feast day on July 26.
There are different versions of novenas to St. Anne. The version below offers up one fixed intention each day in addition to the personal prayer intention you want to offer up the novena for each day.
How to Pray: St. Anne Novena
Day 1 – Grandmothers
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray today for grandmothers in our world–that they can be pillars of faith for their families and signs of Your love.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 2 – For Women Hoping to Conceive
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray today for women struggling to conceive and those encountering fertility issues.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 3 – For Women in Labor
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray today for all women in labor, that they remain healthy and feel God’s loving peace and comfort embrace them as they prepare to welcome the gift of new life into the world.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 4 – For New Mothers
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray today for new mothers. You were once a new mother and no doubt encountered challenges and struggles in learning the path forward. Pray for all women who recently welcomed children into the world, that they may know with certainty that they are enough. And that they are loved. Pray that God gives them strength, comfort, and wisdom.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 5 – For New Grandmothers
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray today for grandmothers in our world–that they can be pillars of faith for their families and signs of Your love.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 6 – For Homemakers
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray today for homemakers and housewives, those who imbue homes with love and faith. Those who offer the beautiful gift of hospitality, through which Scripture tells us some have entertained angels.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 7 – For Single People
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray for all single people. Pray that they never feel along in God’s love. Pray that they keep their hearts fixed on God and their ears open to His call.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 8 – For Couples
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray today for all couples. Pray that God strengthens their relationships and blesses their marriages. Pray that they discern God’s call for their lives.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 9 – Pursuit of Sainthood
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, you cried out to the Lord with your needs. Today, I ask for your prayers in my own moment of need.
You comforted your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus. Be with us today and as we humbly ask, intercede with your prayers on our behalf.
St. Anne, you gave us Immaculate Mary, free from original sin, who continues to watch over us and pray for us. We beseech you, St. Anne, to pray today for as we strive to live our lives as saints, as we are all called to do.
St. Anne, grandmother of Christ, pray also today for this special intention that I hold near to my heart: (share your personal intention for the novena):
St. Anne, filled with compassion and favored by God, intercede for me, that God will grant me my special request, as He did for you. Pray especially that I will submit to God’s will and trust in Him, as you did. St. Anne, pray for me!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.