As the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, Saint Anne is one of the most important and powerful saints in the history of Christianity, with equal importance to those who practice Santeria. Many prayers and rituals seek her powerful blessing. Saint Anne is remembered as a kind and blessed woman, a devoted mother and grandmother, a loyal wife, and a woman with an unbreakable faith.

A History of Saint Anne

Saint Anne was born in Bethlehem, the city of King David, and the birthplace of Jesus, her grandson. Her name means "grace." Saint Anne was the wife of Saint Joachim. The married couple tried for many years to have a child but with no success. One day, while away from home on a journey, Joachim had a vision in which he saw his wife pregnant. He immediately returned home so that he could share the wonderful news with Anne.

Later, Saint Anne, praying beneath a laurel tree that grew near her home in the region of Galilee, asked God to make Joachim's vision come true and bless the elderly couple with a child. As she prayed, an angel appeared before the devout woman and told her "Anne, the Lord hath heard thy prayer and thou shalt conceive and bring forth, and thy seed shall be spoken of in all the world." Saint Anne soon became pregnant. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, who grew up to become Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Saint Anne's Role as a Patron Saint

Saint Anne is the patron saint of mothers and grandmothers, as well as unmarried women, pregnant women, and mothers while they are giving birth. As the mother of Mary and grandmother of Christ, Saint Anne looks after and protects the home, and praying to her can help women who are struggling to get pregnant. Saint Anne is also a patron saint of housewives. Because Mary and Jesus Christ are often compared to gold, it is also said that Saint Anne is the patron saint of miners. It is also said that Saint Anne protects sailors from storms.

The Feast Day of Saint Anne is celebrated on July 26th. As Saint Anne was the grandmother of Jesus, on this day it is customary to pay homage to our grandparents. Celebrate the day by cooking a special meal for your grandparents and surrounding them with love and appreciation. If it is not possible to see your grandparents on July 26, be sure to send them a card and call them to express your love and gratitude.

Calling on Saint Anne For Her Protection

There are many prayers to Saint Anne, with several of them written to honor and invoke her protection as a blessed mother, grandmother, and loyal housewife. Say the following novena to Saint Anne whenever you are in need of her guidance and support.

O glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke thee and with love for those who suffer,
heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at thy feet and humbly beg of thee to take under thy special protection the present affair which I commend to thee.
(Mention your intention here)

Be pleased to commend it to thy daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy outcome.
Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.

Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face,
and, with thee and Mary and all the Saints, of praising and blessing Him for all eternity. Amen.

Good St. Anne, mother of her who is our life,
our sweetness and our hope,
pray to her for us and obtain our request.
Good St. Anne, pray for us. Jesus, Mary, Anne.

Begin your Novena to Saint Anne on July 17, and continue praying for nine days. This timing will result in your Novena being completed on the eve of St. Anne’s Feast Day.

Another short and simple Prayer to Saint Anne is as follows...

Lord, God of our fathers, through Sts. Joachim and Anne, You gave us the Mother of Your Incarnate Son.
May their prayers help us to attain the salvation You promised to Your people. Amen.

Wearing a medallion of Saint Anne is one popular way of obtaining her blessing and protection. Typically worn around the neck, medals of Saint Anne normally show her with her daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, sitting in her lap. It is the most popular symbol of Saint Anne. Other images used to represent her are the door, which is her emblem, as well as the book, which reminds believers of when Anne taught her daughter how to read the Scripture. These images can be worn for protection and as a reminder of how to be a good parent.

Place a statue of Saint Anne on your altar when you are petitioning her. Adorn the statue with white flowers or string flowers together to create a garland and drape it over the statue. Offerings of sweet desserts and candies are customary gifts to Saint Anne.

Candles and oils dedicated to Saint Anne's name are other powerful tools. A Saint Anne candle can be burned while saying prayers to her for protection, help with conceiving a child, and good health for pregnant mothers and housewives. A seven-day candle that shows Saint Anne's image can be burned to grant protection and blessings, especially to children and families. Her oil is best used to anoint the candle. Perfume dedicated to Saint Anne can also be worn, granting protection to women, their homes, and their children and grandchildren.