# Novena to St. Joachim and St. Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
*2020-07-16*

> Bill Young introduces a novena to St. Joachim and St. Anne, offering prayers for the sick, for peace, and for the grace to follow Christ more faithfully.

## Introducing the Novena

Good afternoon, I’m Bill Young. Today, July 17, 2020, we begin a novena to St. Joachim and St. Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The novena runs from today through July 25, with the feast of the holy couple on July 26.

## Opening Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
O God, come to my aid; O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. Amen.

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

## Prayer to St. Anne

Blessed St. Anne, mother of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, we thank you for the greatness of your vocation. We unite ourselves to your holy protection and consecrate our lives to Jesus and Mary. Grant that we may live with humble openness and gratitude, loving our brothers and sisters, that we may one day praise God in eternity. Amen.

St. Anne, gracious Mother of Mary, through your patient perseverance in the face of sterility, obtain for us the grace to accept the trials of this life. May the Holy Spirit fill our hearts with virtue, and may our prayers be accompanied by a spirit of sacrifice, that we may be worthy of heavenly graces. Amen.

## Prayer to St. Joachim

O great and glorious St. Joachim, chosen among the saints to cooperate with the divine mystery, we ask for your intercession. We pray for those suffering from the coronavirus, that they may be healed and that a vaccine may come soon. We also pray for justice and equality among all people, created in God’s image. Grant us the grace to detach from worldly possessions, to love Jesus and Mary more deeply, and to live and die in perfect faith, hope, and charity. Amen.

## Closing

Lord, be with us, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

May God bless you all, and may peace be with you.

*Through the intercession of St. Joachim and St. Anne, we entrust our prayers for healing, justice, and deeper discipleship to the loving care of the Holy Family.*