Solemn Novena of Saint Anne

Tomorrow, July 17th, is the first day of the Solemn Novena of Saint Anne. Countless people throughout the world will be joining together in prayer for their own intentions and the intentions of all those making the novena. The Solemn Novena concludes on July 25, the eve of the Feast of Saint's Joachim and Anne. In some places the Solemn Novena commences on July 18 and concludes on the feastday itself.

Beginning tomorrow there will be a special Novena post in addition to the regular daily post that will continue through the end of July. Each post will focus on a different shrine dedicated to Saint Anne where pilgrims will be gathering especially during these nine days in preparation for her feast and in celebration of her feast itself. There will also be a link to a page with the novena prayers.

I have three things to ask of you:

1. Prepare your intentions for the Solemn Novena and write them down. Place them in your prayerbook or at the place you say your prayers so you will not forget them each day when you pray the novena prayers. Please include my intentions as well as those of all who are connected via this "blog novena."
2. Tell your friends, family members, co-workers, church members, neighbors about the novena and give them the link to the blog. Let us "storm heaven" and St. Anne with our prayers.
3. If you know of a shrine dedicated to St. Anne or a parish that is holding novena devotions or celebrating the Feast of St. Anne with special solemnity, please email me with the complete name and location along with a link to their website or the schedule of services at JScottBaileyCSsR (at) gmail (dot) com [replace at with @ and dot with . ]

May Jesus, His Mother, and His Grandmother bless you and watch over you.

Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.