Feast of St. Anne

Two years ago, I had to make some pretty tough choices. I was living out here in California with my brother and sister-in-law and had just found out they were moving to Florida because my brother was being stationed there with the Marines. I had to decide whether I was going to move back to Colorado where my friends and family were, or move up to a little converted garage apartment in the middle of the desert so I could be closer to my boyfriend.

I started praying to St. Anne, and began a novena to her on her feast day (which I didn't realize at the time) and she definitely pulled through. After I finished the novena, it just seemed so obvious that I should stay here in the desert with my future husband and start the vocation that I had been called to. I wish I had known St. Anne sooner, she hasn't always been my special patron, but I can say that she is now.

She is an excellent model for wives and mothers and a perfect saint to pray to about relationships; Whether you are trying to find a husband or already have one.

                Novena to St. Ann

O glorious Saint Ann, 
you are filled with compassion 
for those who invoke you, 
and with love for those suffer. 
Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles, 
I cast myself at your feet 
  and humbly beg of you to take the present intention, 
which I recommend to you in your special care.

Please recommend it to your daughter, 
the Blessed Virgin Mary, 
and place it before the throne of Jesus, 
so that he may bring it to a happy issue.

Continue to intercede for me 
until my request is granted. 
But above all obtain for me the grace one day 

to see my God face to face, 

and with you and Mary and all the saints 
to praise and bless him for all eternity.  Amen.

Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory be.

Saint Ann, help me now and at the hour of my death! 
Good Saint Ann, intercede for me!

FIRST DAY

Dear Saint Ann, I appeal to you and place myself under your great motherly care as I begin this novena in your honor.  Please listen to my prayers and requests.

Help me, also, to begin this time of prayer with a heart open to the loving grace of God.  Give me the strength to begin a new life that will last forever.

Finally, blessed Saint Ann, I ask you to recommend me to your daughter, the most holy virgin Mary.  Through her, may I receive the spirit of prayer, humility, and the love of God.

(Recite the Prayer to Saint Ann above, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be, and the invocation to Saint Ann after each day’s reflection)

SECOND DAY

From the depths of my heart, good Saint Ann, I offer you my homage and I ask you to shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care.  Help me to purify my thoughts and desires.

Aid my decisions that all that I do may be done in love.

THIRD DAY

Good Saint Ann, you were the first to respond to the needs of Mary, the mother of our Savior.  You watched over her in her infancy, presented her at the temple, and consecrated her to the service of God.

By the great power God has given you, show yourself to be my mother and consoler.  Help me dedicate myself to God and to my neighbors.

Console me in my trials and strengthen me in my struggles.

FOURTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, you offered your daughter in the temple with faith, piety, and love.  With the happiness which then filled your heart, help me to present myself to God and to the world as a committed disciple of Jesus.

Take me under your protection.  Strengthen me in my temptations.  Show yourself to be a mother and help me to live a life of holiness and love.

FIFTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, by God’s special favor, grant consolation to us who invoke you.  Help us to grow in spiritual wealth for the life to come, and guide us in our temporal affairs as well.

Grant us the gift of continuous conversion and renewal of heart.  Help us to accept the Gospel of Jesus over and over again so that we may be ready to be true disciples in whatever situations we may experience during our lives.

SIXTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, free my heart of pride, vanity, and self-love.  Help me to know myself as I really am, and to learn meekness and simplicity of heart.

I realize God’s great love for me.  Help me to reflect this love through works of mercy and charity toward my neighbor.

SEVENTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, by the power and grace God has placed in you, extend to me your helping hand.  Renew my mind and heart.

I have unbounded confidence in your prayers.  Direct my actions according to your goodness and wisdom.  I place myself under your motherly care.

Pray that I may receive the grace to lead a devout life on earth, and that I may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.

EIGHTH DAY

Saint Ann, you gave birth to Mary, whose divine Son brought forth salvation to our world by conquering death and restoring hope to all people.  Help me to pray to him who, for love of us, clothed himself with human flesh.

May I be guided from anything that is displeasing in the sight of God.  Pray that the Spirit of Jesus may enlighten and direct me in all I do.

Good Saint Ann, keep a watchful eye on me.

Help me bear all my crosses, and sustain me with courage.

NINTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, I have come to the end of this novena in your honor.

Do not let your kind ear grow weary of my prayers, thought I repeat them so often.

Implore for me from God’s providence all the help I need to get through life.  May your generous hand bestow on me the material means to satisfy my needs, and to alleviate the plight of the poor.

Good Saint Ann, pray that I may praise and thank the Holy Trinity for all eternity.