Novena in Honor of St. Anne

(Beginning July 17)

Opening Prayer

(300 days, once a day.)

With deep and heartfelt veneration I prostrate myself before thee, O glorious St Anne. Thou art that creation of privilege and predilection, who through thy extraordinary virtues and sanctity wast worthy to receive from God the supreme grace of giving life to the treasure-house of all graces, blessed among women, Mother of the Word Incarnate, the most holy Virgin Mary. Deign, therefore, O most compassionate saint, for the sake of this lofty privilege, to receive me into the number of thy true followers, for such I protest I am and desire to remain so long as I may live. Surround me with thy powerful patronage, and obtain for me from God the grace to imitate those virtues with which thou wast so abundantly adorned. Grant that I may know and bitterly lament my sins. Obtain for me a most lively affection for Jesus and Mary, and fidelity and constancy in the practice of the duties of my state. Preserve me from every danger in life, and assist me in the moment of my death, so that, safe in Paradise, I may unite with thee, most blessed Mother, in praising the Word of God made man in the bosom of thy most pure child, the Virgin Mary.

Pater, Ave, and Gloria Patri.

July 17

Great Saint Anne, engrave indelibly on my heart and in my mind the words which have reclaimed and sanctified so many sinners: “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world if he lose his own soul?” May this be the principal fruit of these prayers by which I will strive to honor thee during this novena. At thy feet I renew my resolution to invoke you daily, not only for the success of my temporal affairs and to be preserved from sickness and suffering, but above all, that I may be preserved from all sin, that I may gain the victory over my depraved inclination and that I may succeed in working out my eternal salvation. O my powerful Protectress, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven, there with thee, thy blessed spouse, and thy glorious daughter, to sing the praise of the most holy and adorable Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

July 18

Glorious Saint Anne, how canst thou be otherwise than overflowing with tenderness toward poor sinners like myself, since thou art the grandmother of Him Who shed Blood for them, and the mother of her whom the saints call the advocate of sinners? To thee, therefore, I address my prayers with confidence. Vouchsafe to commend me to Jesus and Mary so that, at thy request, they may grant me remission of my sins, perseverance, the love of God, charity for all mankind, and the special grace of which I stand in need at this present time. O my powerful Protectress, let me not lose my soul, but obtain for me that, through the merits of Jesus Christ and the intercession of Mary, I may have the happiness of seeing them, of loving and praising them with thee for all eternity. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

July 19

Beloved of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Mother of the Queen of Heaven, take us, and all who are dear to us, under thy special care. Obtain for us the virtues thou didst instill into the heart of her who was destined to become the Mother of God, and the graces with which thou wast endowed. Sublime model of Christian womanhood! Pray that we may imitate thy example in our homes and families, listen to our petitions, and obtain our requests, Guardian of the infancy and childhood of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, obtain the graces necessary for all who enter the marriage state, that imitating thy virtues they may sanctify their homes, and lead the souls entrusted to their care to eternal glory. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

July 20

Glorious Saint, I kneel in confidence at thy feet for thou also hast tasted the bitterness and sorrow of life. My necessities, the cause of my tears, are as follows: (Here make your intentions in silence.) Good Saint Anne, thou, who didst suffer much during the twenty years that preceded thy glorious maternity, I beseech thee, by all thy sufferings and humiliations, to grant my prayer. I pray thee, through thy love for thy glorious spouse, through thy love for thy immaculate child, through the joy thou didst feel at the moment of her happy birth, not to refuse me. Bless me, bless my family and all who are dear to me, so that some day we may all be with thee in the glory of heaven for all eternity. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

July 21

Great Saint Anne, how far I am from resembling thee, I so easily give way to impatience and discouragement; and so easily give up praying when God does not at once grant my request. That is why I am so wretched and so poor in virtue. Prayer is the key to all heavenly treasures and I cannot pray, because my weak faith and languid confidence fail me at the slightest delay of divine mercy. O my powerful Protectress, come to my aid, cause my confidence and fervor, supported by the promises of Jesus Christ, to redouble in proportion as the trial to which God in His goodness subjects me is prolonged, that I may thus obtain, like thee, more than I can venture to ask. In future I will remember that I am made for heaven and not for earth, for eternity and not for time; that consequently I must ask, above all, the salvation of my soul which is assured to all who pray properly and who persevere in prayer. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

July 22

Glorious Saint Anne, mother of the august Mother of God, I beg thee to obtain, through thy intercession, the pardon of my sins and the assistance I need in my troubles. What can I not hope for if thou deignest to take me under thy protection? The Most High has been pleased to grant the prayers of sinners whenever thou has been charitable enough to be their advocate. Humbly prostrate at thy feet, I beg thee to help me in all spiritual and temporal dangers; to guide me in the true path of Christian perfection, and finally, to obtain for me the grace of ending my life with the death of the just, so that I may contemplate face to face thy beloved Jesus and thy daughter Mary in thy loving companionship throughout eternity. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

July 23

Good Saint Anne, so justly called the mother of the infirm, the cure of those who suffer from disease, look kindly upon the sick for whom I pray; alleviate their sufferings; cause them to sanctify their sufferings by patience and complete submission to the divine will; finally deign to obtain health for them and with it the firm resolution to honor Jesus, Mary and thyself by the faithful performance of duties. But, merciful Saint Anne, I ask thee above all, salvation of the soul, rather than bodily health, for I am convinced that this fleeting life is given us solely to assure us a better one. Now, we cannot obtain that better life without the help of God's graces, I earnestly beg them of thee for the sick and for myself, the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of His Immaculate Mother and through thy efficacious and powerful mediation, O glorious Saint Anne. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

July 24

Remember, O Saint Anne, thou whose name signifieth grace and mercy that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, good and kind mother; I take refuge at thy feet and sinful as I am, I venture to appear before thee, groaning under the weight of my sins. O holy Mother of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, despise not my petitions but hear me and grant my prayer. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

July 25

Most Holy Mother of the Virgin Mary, glorious Saint Anne, I, a miserable sinner, confiding in thy kindness, choose thee today as my special advocate. I offer and consecrate my person and all my interests to thy care and maternal solicitude. I purpose to serve and honor thee all my life for the love of thy most holy daughter and to do all in my power to spread devotion to thee. O my very good Mother and advocate, deign to accept me as thy servant and to adopt me as thy child. O glorious Queen, I beg thee, by the Passion of my most loving Jesus, the Son of Mary, thy most holy daughter, to assist me in all the necessities both of my body and my soul. Venerable Mother, I beg thee to obtain for me the grace of leading a life perfectly conformable in all things to the divine will. I place my soul in thy hands and in those of thy kind daughter; I confide it to thee, above all at the moment, when it will be about to separate itself from my body in order that appearing under thy patronage before the Supreme Judge, He may find it worthy of enjoying His divine presence in thy holy companionship in heaven. Amen.

Litany.

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Anne, intercede for me.

Litany of St. Anne

Lord, have mercy on us.
 Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
 Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

St Anne, Mother of the Virgin Mary, pray for us.
St Anne, Spouse of St Joachim, pray for us.
St Anne, Ark of Noah, pray for us.
St Anne, root of Jesse, pray for us.
St Anne, fruitful vine, pray for us.
St Anne, joy of the angels, pray for us.
St Anne, hope of the patriarchs, pray for us.
St Anne, vessel full of grace, pray for us.
St Anne, mirror of obedience, pray for us.
St Anne, mirror of patience, pray for us.
St Anne, mirror of devotion, pray for us.
St Anne, support of the Church, pray for us.
St Anne, refuge of sinners, pray for us.
St Anne, mother of virgins, pray for us.
St Anne, help of Christians, pray for us.
St Anne, gate of salvation, pray for us.
St Anne, guide of pilgrims, pray for us.
St Anne, consolatrix of the afflicted, pray for us.
St Anne, health of the sick, pray for us.
St Anne, help of all who invoke you, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

℣. Pray for us, O blessed St Anne.
℟. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray.—O God, Who by Thy grace wast pleased to choose blessed Anne to be the mother of the Virgin Mary, mercifully grant that we who celebrate her praises may be assisted by her prayers to Thee. Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.