Day 5: Patroness of Laborers

Reflection

We are all laborers in some way on earth. Good work is honorable, and we can turn to St. Anne for aid in our labors. But it is most essential that our labors be for a spiritual purpose as well as a practical one. “The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few” (Matt 9:37). We must awaken from our spiritual slumber and put our duties as Catholics into action.

“Among the various classes of laborers, many regard St. Anne as their special protectress. But it is very significant that Christian sculptors venerate her as their model. They have chosen as their emblem the image of St. Anne teaching the child Mary, with these words inscribed beneath: 'Thus she wrought the Tabernacle of God.'"

–“Good St. Anne”

Novena Prayer

Glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present need under your special protection.

(State your intention here)

Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face, and with you and Mary, and all the angels and saints, to praise Him through all eternity.

Great Saint Anne, how far I am from resembling you.

 I so easily give way to impatience and discouragement; and so easily give up praying when God does not at once answer my request.

Prayer is the key to all heavenly treasures and I cannot pray, because my weak faith and lack of confidence fail me at the slightest delay of Divine Mercy.

 O my powerful protectress, come to my aid, listen to my petition… (state your intention here)

Make my confidence and fervor, supported by the promise of Jesus Christ, increase as the trial to which God, in His goodness, subjects me is prolonged, that I may obtain, like you, more than I can venture to ask for.

In the future I will remember that I am made for heaven and not for earth; for eternity and not for time; that consequently I must ask, above all, for the salvation of my soul. Amen.

Pray for us, Saint Anne!

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.