Novena to St Anne – Day Five – 21 July
Reflections by:
By Fr Daniel A Lord, SJ
FIFTH DAY:
Joachim and Anne were coming into late middle age. The hope that they would have children seemed almost past. Longingly had they prayed for a child. Now they hardly dared hope any longer.
And then the wonder. Anne conceived and the happy pair knew that they would be parents.
If there had been peace in the house before, now there was deepest joy. God had answered their petitions. God had blessed them with parenthood.
If Anne had hitherto done gladly the simple work of her household, she now did it with new purpose and high happiness. The house must be even more spotless for the coming child. Little dresses must be made, quilts and pillows sewed.
Each Sabbath in the synagogue Anne upon her knees thanked God, who had blessed her.
Each morning and each night, she prayed the Father in heaven, to bless with the fullness of grace and the richness of a life devoted to His service, the child she was to bear.
And Mary, the loveliest infant that the world had ever seen until that day, was born. Anne smiled into the happy eyes of Joachim. Together they loved the little Mary, their gift from God.
To the happy mother of Mary, we pray:
Daily Prayer:
O glorious St Anne,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer!
Heavily burdened 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.
…………………(make your intention)
Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
and place 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.
But, 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
Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .
O Jesus, Holy Mary, St Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.
Good St Anne, intercede for me.
FIFTH DAY
Hail, all-powerful Lady.
By God’s special favour,
grant consolation to those who invoke you.
Procure for them the eternal riches of heaven
and like a good mother,
success in their temporal affairs as well.
Good St Anne,
obtain my deliverance from the punishment which my sins deserve.
Obtain for me success in my temporal affairs,
especially see to the salvation of my soul.
St Anne, by your influence with Mary’s son Jesus,
you have won the gift of conversion for many sinners.
Will you then abandon me,
who have chosen you as my mother?
No, St Ann.
Your name alone, which signifies grace,
assures me of the help of your prayers
and these prayers, will surely procure pardon
and mercy from Jesus.
Please pray for me now
and at the hour of my death.
Amen
Victor was bound hand and foot and dragged through the streets of the city, exposed to the blows and insults of the populace. He was brought back bruised and bloody to the tribunal of the prefects who, thinking his resolution must have been weakened by his sufferings, pressed him again to adore their gods. But the martyr, filled with the Holy Spirit, expressed his respect for the emperor and his contempt for their gods. He was then hoisted on the rack and tortured a long time, until, the tormentors being at last weary, the prefect ordered him to be taken down and thrown into a dark dungeon. At midnight, God visited him by His angels; the prison was filled with a light brighter than that of the sun and the martyr sung with the angels the praises of God.
AnaStpaul 
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