Novena to St Anne – Day Eight – 24 July
Reflections by:
By Fr Daniel A Lord, SJ
EIGHTH DAY:
Next to Mary, Anne is the favourite name for all the world. It is the symbol of her motherly virtues. It is so intimately associated with Mary and with Jesus that it commands our affection. Thousands of girl babies each year are named for the mother of Mary. Time was, when the highest honour that could be conferred upon a baby girl, was to call her Mary Anne, linking in a double name the virtue and intercession of the world’s two most powerful women.
Today that name remains the symbol of strength and power.
We call upon Anne, knowing that the Saviour will listen to the prayers of His devoted grandmother.
In her name we ask favours and blessings, sure that the God, who chose her daughter, to be His Mother, will be generous to the woman who shaped His Mother to her high career.
Fortunate the women whose name is Anne.
Blessed the millions across the world who pray to the great Saint Anne, knowing that her name is dear to God and that prayer to her is prayer that the Saviour, her Grandson, will willingly heed.
To her whose name and fame we love, 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.
EIGHTH DAY
Hail, St Anne! I rejoice at your exalted glory.
You gave birth to Mary,
whose divine Son brought salvation to our lost world
by conquering death and restoring life and hope to sinners.
Pray to Him who, for love of us,
clothed Himself with human flesh
in the chaste womb of your daughter.
Glorious S. Anne,
with your blessed daughter,
deliver me from everything that is displeasing in the sight of God.
Pray to your gentle and powerful Grandson,
that He may cleanse my soul in His precious blood,
that He may send His Holy Spirit to enlighten
and direct me in all that I do,
always obedient to His holy inspirations.
Good mother, keep a watchful eye on me.
Help me bear all my crosses.
Please give me the fullness of your bounty
and sustain me with courage.
Amen
AnaStpaul 