ST. ANNE

Good St. Anne
Nihil Obstat: William J. Blacet, J.C.L.
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: +J. John P. Cody, S.T.D.
Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph
December 4, 1957

Originally published by the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, Missouri in 1958. Revised edition published in 1963. Retypeset and re-published by TAN Books and Publishers, Inc. in 1998. Updates and additions made to information on shrines by the Publisher, 1998.

TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS

The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Anne

Veneration of St. Anne is closely allied to veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feasts of Mary's nativity and presentation are in reality feasts of St. Anne, as all praises referring to the daughter are directed also to the mother. Mary surpasses all the faithful in veneration, esteem and in tender and filial love for her holy mother. While Anne and Mary lived on earth, the bond of love that united their hearts was most ardent and intimate. Nor has this bond been dissolved in Heaven.

Rather, it has been drawn still closer and has become indissoluble for all eternity. Mary once appeared to one of her clients and asked her to add to her customary Rosary devotion an Our Father and Hail Mary in honor of Mary's holy mother, St. Anne. "Those who honor St. Anne," said Our Lady, "will obtain great aid in every need, especially at the hour of death." To another person she said: "The honor you show to my mother is doubly dear and pleasing to me."

The learned Bollandists relate that a hermit who was especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin was once seized with bitter anguish of spirit. He fled for refuge to the Queen of Heaven. Radiant with splendor, Mary appeared to him and said: "Since you are lovingly devoted to me, I will take away all your grief and sorrow of soul, but I admonish you to venerate and praise my dear mother also, if you desire great graces from me. I am highly pleased with the affection accorded to my beloved mother. Know, too, that my Son, Jesus, has promised to deliver from misfortune all who honor my mother and to assist them in attaining eternal glory. My son, practice this devotion and make it known."

After speaking these words, Mary vanished, leaving a heavenly perfume in the hermit's cell. The anchorite faithfully complied with the request of the Virgin Mother. From that time on, to every greeting addressed to the Queen of Heaven, he added the prayer: "And blessed be thy sweet mother, Anne, from whom thou didst assume thy virginal flesh."

If we wish to give Mary special joy, let us fervently venerate St. Anne, for every child is pleased to see her mother honored.

How the Saints Honored Saint Anne

It would be impossible to enumerate the many Saints who practiced great devotion to St. Anne. St. Augustine, the illustrious Doctor who illumined the Church of God with his profound wisdom, practiced an ardent devotion to St. Anne. Every year on the Saint's feast, he preached on her virtues and dignity with an eloquence which encouraged and inspired his numerous hearers.

St. John Damascene, another Doctor of the Church, not only most ardently venerated Mary, but St. Anne as well. He preached many sermons in her honor and composed books that treated of her glory and dignity. "St. Anne," he declares in his writing, "is a generous mother, a compassionate mother, a gracious mother, because the word 'Anne' means 'generous, merciful, gracious.' "

St. Thomas Aquinas, hailed as one of the greatest of intellectuals, a prodigy of learning, a pillar of Holy Church, an angel of wisdom and one of the most eminent Doctors of the Church, was a fervent client of good St. Anne. His example ought to strengthen our confidence in this privileged Saint and urge us to venerate her most fervently. He frequently refers to St. Anne and sets forth reasons for honoring her dignity and power. He assures us that the privilege of aiding man in every distress has been given to good St. Anne.

St. Teresa of Avila, the seraphic virgin and reformer of religious discipline, entertained a tender love of St. Anne. This highly gifted teacher of prayer delighted to speak of St. Anne's dignity and power, and she inspired those under her care with a fervent affection for Our Lady's mother. In all convents of the Carmelite Order, she introduced special devotions to St. Anne. The same was done by St. Bridget in her order.

Anne Catherine Emmerich, who bore the sacred stigmata in her body, said, "In desperate cases of need, I always invoke the holy mother Anne."

The Power of St. Anne's Intercession

Almighty God privileged St. Anne above all others in choosing her to be the mother of the Queen of Heaven. This favored Saint ranks high in merit and glory, near to the Word Incarnate and to His most holy Mother. Certainly, then, St. Anne has great power with God. Yes, assuredly the mother of the most powerful and amiable Virgin is likewise full of power and mercy.

To many Saints God has granted the power of working miracles. He told His Apostles that they would do greater things than He had done. Now surely, what He promised to His chosen followers He could not refuse to His own grandmother! Those related to Him by the ties of blood were dear to Him in life and still have great power through their intercession. There can be no question, then, that St. Anne has great influence over her Divine Grandson and that by her intercessory power she can also work miracles in favor of her clients.

Tradition, the history of the Church and the chronicles of various places of pilgrimage have recorded countless miracles wrought by Christ through the intercession of His Sainted grandmother. Nor have they ceased to this day. Yearly, hundreds of thousands of persons visit the shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré in Canada alone. Many are cured of diseases; all are comforted and consoled. These favors serve to strengthen and confirm our trust and confidence in the power of the intercession of good St. Anne.

The famous and learned Abbot Trithemius practiced an extraordinary devotion to St. Anne and did all in his power to induce others to venerate her. He wrote a book in her praise in which he says: "To St. Anne God has given the power to aid in every necessity, because Jesus, her Divine Grandchild according to the flesh, will refuse her no petition, and Mary, her glorious daughter, supports her every request. Those who venerate good St. Anne shall want for nothing, either in this life or the next. Believe me, if you love and venerate this Saint, you will experience how highly God esteems her. He grants all she asks! It would be impossible to enumerate the many graces she obtains daily for her servants."

The same writer continues: "St. Anne by her intercession dispels melancholy and evil desires. She also aids the poor, cures the sick and comforts the sorrowing. She removes tribulations and by her intercession obtains for her clients the grace to eradicate vice and implant virtue. She obtains light for the intellect, strength for the will and affection for the heart. This powerful Saint has preserved thousands from contagious diseases. Through her intercession, evil spirits have been expelled. For the barren in the married state, she obtains children and Heavenly assistance in delivery. She inspires the despairing with trust in God's mercy and excites the tepid to zeal and fervor. St. Anne has rescued many from imminent death; yes, through her intercession the dead have, in several instances, been restored to life. Those who worthily venerate St. Anne can obtain aid in every necessity through her mediation."

Pope Gregory XIII, when introducing the feast of St. Anne into the Church, declared: "We believe that St. Anne continually intercedes for us with the merciful Lord, for through her great benefits have come to mankind. From her was born the ever pure and immaculate Virgin Mary, who was found worthy to bring forth Jesus Christ, our Redeemer."

Pope Gregory XV encourages us thus: "We do not doubt that the more love we show to the mother of Mary, the more we merit the intercession and aid of the holy Virgin who brought forth the only-begotten Son of God, Our Lord Jesus Christ."

St. Teresa of Avila often said: "We know and are convinced that our good mother St. Anne helps in all needs, dangers and tribulations, for Our Lord wishes to show us that He will do also in Heaven what she asks of Him for us."

The saintly Abbot Trithemius again exhorts us: "Approach St. Anne, your amiable protectress, with full confidence. Knock at her gates with persevering prayer, because she can obtain for you the forgiveness of your sins and can open Heaven for you. She lacks nothing that can profit you . . . Believe me, who has already obtained many a favor through her whom the Queen of Heaven honors as her dearest mother . . . No one knows, no one believes, how many favors God confers on lovers of St. Anne!"

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