De sancta Anna matre virginis Mariae
The Grace of St. Anna
An introduction to the life and spiritual significance of St. Anna, emphasizing her role as the mother of the Virgin Mary and the importance of honoring her.
“You asked, daughters of Jerusalem,” says the blessed Jerome, “you asked, most beloved sisters, that if I should find anything anywhere in the Greek volumes about the holy and most blessed Anna, mother of the Theotokos—that is, the Mother of God—I should bring it forth in the Latin tongue for her praise and glory; but let not your holiness judge me if I did not immediately comply with your request and did not translate into the Latin tongue the Greek text that, by God’s providence, fell into my hands.” I confess, indeed, that I am unworthy to undertake the translation of so great a matter, but let us seek help from heaven and, with Moses, lift up our hands so that once the labor of your request is overcome, there may be fruit from your prayers; for the subject we are dealing with is illustrious and most worthy of all praise. St. Anna is indeed that good tree from which the branch, cut off by itself, blossomed divinely; this is the fruitful barrenness and holy simplicity. This is the root to be honored with all praise, from which the branch went forth from the root of Jesse; this is the blessed among women and the happy among mothers. For from her shone forth to the world the temple of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, the Mother of God, and she is deservedly called Anna, which means the grace of God, who gave birth to Mary, who was full of grace. For this reason today, most beloved brothers, let us celebrate the festive memory of the blessed Anna, mother of the holy Mother of God and perpetual Virgin Mary, in which she left the prison of the flesh and was carried up venerably to the heavens by the service of the angels, to the eternal company of the patriarchs and... of the prophets. She arrived at the glorious and happy company, from whose flesh she drew the origin of her own flesh, so that for the fruit of her womb God might send redemption to His people. Let the holy Mother Church therefore rejoice, fortified by the prayers of this holy matron, and let her exult in her praises with all devotion. For this is that earth of heavenly blessing from which the celestial Potter fashioned the vessel of our hope, the most blessed Virgin Mary, who from the shower of divine dew brought forth the Word of God incarnate for the human race. Rejoice, therefore, and be glad, happy mother, and more fortunate than other mothers, you who deserved to enjoy the privilege of such offspring, through whom the captive received redemption, the sick healing, the sad consolation, the sinner forgiveness, the just grace, the angel joy, and finally the whole Trinity received glory, and the Person of the Son received the substance of flesh from His infinite mercy. Let us all, therefore, rejoice today in the Lord, serving the mother of the Mother of God, that we may be protected by her help. Exult in such a matron, you virgins, with a joyful heart; exult also, you widows, and let all married women rejoice in such a lady for the affection shown; and let all men exult, and let the whole world also exult in the feast of St. Anna, because from her went forth the Virgin, in whom the Word was made flesh. Therefore, let all, elders and little ones, pray to St. Anna with a devout mind in all our needs and dangers, that she may obtain forgiveness for us from her daughter. For it is read that the Mother of God, the undefiled Virgin, appeared to a certain holy man, her servant, who served her diligently and devoutly, saying: "And behold, you and countless men and almost all Christians honor me on account of my Son, but few are they who honor my mother, St. Anna, on account of me. Therefore, if you desire to serve me well and wish to please me above all, I want you from now on to honor my mother also with some sweet spiritual devotion and to celebrate her feast more devoutly"; which he did and devoutly fulfilled as long as he lived.
A Prayer to the Mother of the Queen
A devotional reflection and formal prayer addressing St. Anna, acknowledging her unique status in heaven and seeking her intercession.
O Lady and holy Anna, in what joys in the heavens do you exult, remaining there without end! For above all the saints, you alone in the heavens will be able to say: 'This is the Lady of the world, the Queen of the heavens, the chosen Mother of God, and yet the daughter of my own womb.' It is right to speak to the apostles, and she herself can say: 'These are the senators of the world, the princes of the apostles, the judges of the age, but they are the sons of my daughters.' Therefore, it is fitting to offer this prayer for her devotion: 'Pious and humble mother, from whom Mary came forth, stand by your servants whom heavy guilt weighs down. You who remain blessed and honored with the highest Judge, help us, glorious mother, that we may live in peace. May you wash away completely through divine mercy whatever we commit here through the impurity of life—which may the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit deign to grant.' Amen.
Read the original Latin
Postulastis, filiae Hierusalem, inquit beatus Hieronymus, postulastis sorores dilectissimae, ut, si quid alicubi forte in graecis voluminibus de sancta ac beatissima Anna matre Theotocu, id est Dei genitricis, inveniam, ad ejus laudem et gloriam latino sermone depromam; sed me non arguat sanctitas vestra, si stalim pelilioni vestrae non Obtemperavi et graecum depostulatum, quod Dei providentia in manus nostras incidit, in latinum sermonem non transtuli. Fateor enim pro rei inagnitudine ad tanti negotii translationem me indignum fore, sed e coelo petamus auxilium, et cum Moyse elevate manus, ut petitionis vestrae labore superato vestrarum orationum sit fructus, Nam de qua agimus, res est praeclara et omni laude dignissima. Est nempe sancta Anna illa arbor bona, de qua virga excisa per se divinitus lloruit, Haec est sterilitas fecunda et simplicitas sancta. Haec est radix omni laude colenda, de qua egressa est virga de radice Jesse, Haec est inter mulieres benedicta et inter matres beata: ex ea namque templum domini, sacrarium spiritus sancti, mater Dei mundo illuxit et merito Anna dicitur, id est gratia Dei, quae Mariam, quae gratia plena fuit, genuit. Ob emn rem hodie, fratres carissimi, beatae Annae matris sanctae Dei genitricis ac perpetuae virginis Mariae festivam celebremus memoriam, in qna carnis reliquit ergastulum et subvecta est venerabililer ad coelos sanctorum obsequio angelonun, Ad aeternum siquidem patriarcharum ac. prophetarum gloriosa el felix pervenit contubernium, ex quorum carne carnis contraxit originem, ut pro ventris sui fructu populo suo Deus mitteret redemtionem, Gandeat ergo sacrosancta mater ecclesia hujus sanctae matronae munita suffragiis et in ejus laudibus cum omni devotione exsultet, Haec est enim illa supernae benedictionis terra, de qua coelestis figulus ollam spei nostrae composuit beatissimam virginem Mariam, quae ex divini roris imbre conceptum Dei verbum humano generi praetulit incarnatum, Gaude igitur et laetare, felix maler, et caeteris matribus felicior, quae meruisti tantae prolis gaudere privilegio, per quam captivus redemlionem , aeger curationem, tristis consolationem, peccator veniam, justus graliam, angelus laetitiam, denique tota trinitas gloriam atque filii persona carnis substantiam ex sua misericordia infinita accepit, Omnes ergo hodie gratulemur in domino inatrique genitricis Dei famulantes, ut ejus protegamur auxilio. Exsultate in tanta matrona vos virgines corde laetabundo, exsultate et vos viduae et omnes uxoratae in tanta domina pro affecta gaudeant et omnes viri, in sanctae Annae festo exsultet etiam orbis totus, quia ex ea prodiit virgo, in qua verbum caro factum est, Idcirco omnes sanctam Annam orate majores et parvuli mente devota in omnibus nostris necessitatibus et periculis, ut apud filiam impetret nobis veniam. Legitur enim, quod mater Dei vitgo intemerata cuidam viro sancto suo famulo, qui ei sedulus et devotus serviebat, apparuit dicens: et ecce tu et innumerabiles homines et fere omnes christiani me propter filium meum honorant, sed pauci sunt, qui matrem meam sanctam Annam propter me honorent, Quare si bene mihi servire cupis et summe placere desideras, amodo volo, ut etiam matrem meam dulcissima aliqua spirituali devotione honores ejusque festum devote per amplius celebres; quod, quamdiu vixit, fecit et devote adimplevit.
O domina et sancta Anna, quibus in coelis exsullas gaudiis ibidem permanens sine fine! Prae cunctis enim sanclis tu sola in coelis dicere poteris: haec est inundi domina, coelorum regina, Dei electa mater ac tamen uteri mei filia, Fas est ad apostolos loqui et dicere ipsa polest: isli sunt senatores orbis, principes apostolorum, judices saeculi, sed mearum filiarum sunt filii. Unde ad ejus devotionem dicere libet: pia mater et humilis, de qua Maria prodiil, tuis adesto famulis, quos culpa gravis deprimit, quae felix et emerita manes cun summo judice, succurre, mater inclyta, ul vivamns pacifice, ut, quidquid hic delinquimus vilae per immunditiam, abstergas illuc penitus per divinam clementiam, quod praestare dignetur pater et filins ac spirilus sanctus. Amen,
The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea) companion
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