The mother of the Virgin Mary, grandmother of Jesus — patron of mothers, grandmothers, and women in labor.
Saint Anne is the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus Christ. She is not named in the canonical Gospels, but her story comes from the Protoevangelium of James (an early Christian text dating to the mid-2nd century) and from longstanding Christian tradition. According to this tradition, Anne was married to Joachim, a devout Jewish man from Nazareth or Sepphoris. The couple was childless into old age, a source of great sorrow for them in a culture where childlessness was understood as divine disfavor. They prayed faithfully, and Anne in particular vowed that if God granted them a child, she would dedicate the child to his service. An angel appeared (separately to Anne and to Joachim) announcing that Anne would conceive a daughter — Mary. Anne presented Mary at the Temple at age three to be raised in service to God, fulfilling her vow. From the medieval period onward, Anne became one of the most popular saints in Christian devotion. Her shrine at Sainte-Anne-d'Auray (Brittany, France), Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré (Quebec, Canada), and Sant'Anna dei Lombardi (Naples, Italy) are major pilgrimage destinations. Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans all venerate Anne; Protestants generally accept her as Mary's mother without devotional veneration. Anne is particularly invoked by women hoping to conceive, women in labor, mothers, and grandmothers.
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec, founded after sailors caught in a storm vowed to build a chapel if delivered, has been a major pilgrimage site since the 17th century with thousands of recorded healings — many attributed specifically to Anne's intercession. Sainte-Anne-d'Auray in Brittany has similar records dating to apparitions in the 17th century. Many Catholic women report Anne's intercession in conceiving children after years of infertility, in safe deliveries, and in protection during pregnancy.
Glorious Saint Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden 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 (mention your request). Vouchsafe to recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to lay 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. 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.
Saint Anne is the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ. She is not named in the canonical Gospels but is identified in early Christian tradition (the Protoevangelium of James, mid-2nd century) and has been venerated as Mary's mother for over 1,500 years. She is patron of mothers, grandmothers, and women in labor.
Saint Anne's feast day is July 26, shared with her husband Saint Joachim. The day is widely celebrated in countries with strong devotion to Anne — particularly France (Sainte-Anne-d'Auray in Brittany), Canada (Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec), and Italy (multiple shrines).
Saint Anne is not named in the canonical Gospels. Her story — including her marriage to Joachim and the birth of Mary — comes from the Protoevangelium of James, an early Christian text dating to approximately 150 AD. The text is not Scripture but reflects traditions that early Christians accepted as historically reliable. Mary's parentage is implied but not specified in the New Testament.
Anne and Joachim were childless into old age before Mary's birth — making Anne a natural patron for women hoping to conceive. The tradition of praying to Anne for fertility, safe pregnancy, and safe delivery has been continuous since the medieval period. Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec is particularly associated with answered prayers for children and pregnancy.