The Good Saint Anne

There is not much to learn about Saint Anne except that she is the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus Christ. And as many adored the Blessed Virgin Mary, so is the devotion given to Saint Anne.

We do not have to read religious books or look elsewhere to know more of Saint Anne. We just have to learn from the lives of Mary and Jesus, and then we can learn to know from Saint Anne.

First, she is the patroness of Christian Mothers. Having lived a childless married life, she was granted by God to bear a daughter on her advanced years of which she offered it back to God the moment she gave birth to Mary. Mary’s education is first learned from her family of which Saint Anne was the mother. We can infer that in the growing years of Mary, Saint Anne was always present, thus speak of Saint Anne’s influence. It was Saint Anne who raised Mary to be a worthy choice to become the mother of Jesus. It was her teaching that led her to respond to God’s awesome request with, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be done unto me as you have said” (Luke 1:38), and it was the example of Saint Anne which laid the foundation of a woman who could witness her son’s crucifixion and never lost faith in the goodness of God.

Second, she is the grandmother of Jesus. Nothing much have been said or written about the relationship of Saint Anne with her grandson – Jesus Christ. But her relationship with Jesus has caused her to be adored and venerated. It would be impossible to enumerate the churches and chapels dedicated to her and the many places of pilgrimage where, in the course of centuries, manifold favors have been granted and astounding miracles were produced and documented.

And this devotion to Saint Anne happened because she is the Grandmother of Jesus.

The number of churches having an altar or image in honor of St. Anne is constantly increasing. Love and veneration of the Catholics for Saint Anne is manifested in a practical way by giving the name “Anne” to girls in Baptism.

Certainly, after the name of mary, none is  more beautiful than the name “Anne” because it signifies “grace or gracious”. Frequently the two names, Mary and Anne, are combined.