St. Anne

St. Anne is venerated in Christian tradition as the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus, and as the wife of St. Joachim. As with Joachim, her name and story come not from the canonical Scriptures but from early tradition, especially the second-century Protoevangelium of James, which honors the parents of the Mother of God.

Tradition holds that Anne and Joachim, long childless, conceived Mary in their old age and raised her in holiness, and devotion to St. Anne became widespread in both the Eastern and Western Church, inspiring countless churches, shrines, and works of art such as the great pilgrimage of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec. Though the Church does not vouch for the legendary details, it joyfully honors the woman who gave the world the Mother of the Savior. Celebrated with St. Joachim on 26 July, she is a beloved patron of mothers, grandmothers, and those who long for children.