Novena to Saints Anne and Joachim – 9 Days of Prayer
Novena to the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Our Lord — patron saints of grandparents, parents, and all who raise children in faith
Sts. Anne and Joachim are the parents of Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. Their names do not appear in Scripture but come from early Christian tradition. They are the patrons of grandparents and parents. This novena honours them on July 26 and asks for blessings on families. Their story comes from the early text known as the Protoevangelium of James. Pray the novena for grandparents living and dead, for couples waiting for children, and for the grace to pass on faith to the next generation.
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. Begin nine days before the feast (July 26) and finish on its eve. You can pray this novena at any time of year.
Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle PlayNovena to Saints Anne and Joachim – prayer for all nine days
Intention: For Grandparents, Parents, and All Who Raise Children in Faith
We know almost nothing certain about you. Your names — Anne and Joachim — come not from the Gospels but from an ancient document, the Protoevangelium of James. Scripture is silent about you.
And yet you raised her. You raised the woman who said yes to an angel. You raised the woman who stood at the foot of the cross without flinching. You taught her to pray, to read Torah, to love the God of Israel. Whatever you did — it worked.
There is a tradition that you struggled for years with infertility, and that Mary was your answer to a long prayer. If that is true, you know what it is to wait and not know.
Saints Anne and Joachim, you are proof that holiness is sometimes passed on quietly — through meals, and bedtime prayers, and the example of parents who love each other and love God.
You are the grandparents of Jesus. You probably told him stories. You probably bounced him on your knee. You are part of the human chain that delivered God into the world.
(Pause to mention your intentions)
For all grandparents — those who are close to their grandchildren and those who are far. For parents raising children in a world that makes it hard to pass on faith. For anyone who prays for a child and does not see the answer yet.
Saints Anne and Joachim, pray for all families.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
Saints Anne and Joachim, pray for us.
Pray this prayer once a day for nine days in a row.
Traditional Catholic Devotional Prayer · Feast Day: July 26. The names Anne and Joachim do not appear in Scripture — they come from the Protoevangelium of James (2nd century). They are venerated as the parents who raised the woman who would become the Mother of God. The devotion to Saint Anne is ancient, especially strong in France, Canada, and the Eastern Church.
More novenas
- St. Jude Novena
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena
- St. Joseph Novena
- St. Therese Novena
- St. Anthony of Padua Novena
- St. Rita Novena
Frequently asked questions
When should I start the Novena to Saints Anne and Joachim?
Begin on July 17 to end on July 25, the eve of the feast on July 26.
How do I pray the Novena to Saints Anne and Joachim?
Pray the daily prayer once a day, and call a grandparent or another relative.
Who is the Novena to Saints Anne and Joachim for?
It is for grandparents, parents and those hoping for a child.
Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play