St. Ann Devotion

Devotion to Saint Ann was brought to New France in Canada by the first settlers and early Missionaries to that area. The first house in the parish of Saint Anne de Beaupre dates back to the year 1650. One of the settlers, Seiur Etienne Lessard, donated the land for the first place of worship. On March 13, 1658, the Missionary, Father Vignal blessed the foundation of the proposed chapel, which, by general consent, was dedicated to Saint Ann. The first miracle attributed to the intercession of St. Ann occurred on the first day of the chapel's dedication.  A certain Louis Guimont was cured of a serious rheumatic ailment.

Father Laforest came from Canada and was the forth priest assigned to St. Pierre Parish (would later be renamed as St. Peter). It is believed that the devotion to Saint Ann was brought to the Acadians in south Louisiana through Father Laforest and since Fr. Laforest was assigned in Carencro, it is easily understood why Carencro is blessed with the St. Ann Society.

The Ladies of the St. Ann Society have always implored the help of St. Ann for patience, understanding and charity in helping their families to face the difficulties and hardships of life in a Christian manner. From the example set by our devoted ancestors, we were able to grow into this present group.

To show gratitude for the favors attributed to St. Ann, a shrine was erected on the church grounds in honor of St. Ann. Vigil lights burn perpetually at the shrine. Special services are held throughout the year at the foot of the shrine in the hope that those practices will increase and spread the devotion to St. Ann.

O glorious Saint Ann,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you,
and with love for those 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.
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.
Saint Ann, help me now and at the hour of my death!
Good Saint Ann, intercede for me!

Dear Saint Ann, I appeal to you and place myself under your great motherly care as I begin this novena in your honor. Please listen to my prayers and requests.
Help me, also, to begin this time of prayer with a heart open to the loving grace of God. Give me the strength to begin a new life that will last forever.
Finally, blessed Saint Ann, I ask you to recommend me to your daughter, the most holy virgin Mary. Through her, may I receive the spirit of prayer, humility, and the love of God.
(Recite the Prayer to Saint Ann above, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be, and the invocation to Saint Ann after each day’s reflection)

From the depths of my heart, good Saint Ann, I offer you my homage and I ask you to shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care. Help me to purify my thoughts and desires.
Aid my decisions that all that I do may be done in love.

Good Saint Ann, you were the first to respond to the needs of Mary, the mother of our Savior. You watched over her in her infancy, presented her at the temple, and consecrated her to the service of God.
By the great power God has given you, show yourself to be my mother and consoler. Help me dedicate myself to God and to my neighbors.
Console me in my trials and strengthen me in my struggles.

Good Saint Ann, you offered your daughter in the temple with faith, piety, and love. With the happiness which then filled your heart, help me to present myself to God and to the world as a committed disciple of Jesus.
Take me under your protection. Strengthen me in my temptations. Show yourself to be a mother and help me to live a life of holiness and love.

Good Saint Ann, by God’s special favor, grant consolation to us who invoke you. Help us to grow in spiritual wealth for the life to come, and guide us in our temporal affairs as well.
Grant us the gift of continuous conversion and renewal of heart. Help us to accept the Gospel of Jesus over and over again so that we may be ready to be true disciples in whatever situations we may experience during our lives.

Good Saint Ann, free my heart of pride, vanity, and self-love. Help me to know myself as I really am, and to learn meekness and simplicity of heart.
I realize God’s great love for me. Help me to reflect this love through works of mercy and charity toward my neighbor.

Good Saint Ann, by the power and grace God has placed in you, extend to me your helping hand. Renew my mind and heart.
I have unbounded confidence in your prayers. Direct my actions according to your goodness and wisdom. I place myself under your motherly care.
Pray that I may receive the grace to lead a devout life on earth, and that I may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.

Saint Ann, you gave birth to Mary, whose divine Son brought forth salvation to our world by conquering death and restoring hope to all people. Help me to pray to him who, for love of us, clothed himself with human flesh.
May I be guided from anything that is displeasing in the sight of God. Pray that the Spirit of Jesus may enlighten and direct me in all I do.
Good Saint Ann, keep a watchful eye on me.
Help me bear all my crosses, and sustain me with courage.

Good Saint Ann, I have come to the end of this novena in your honor.
Do not let your kind ear grow weary of my prayers, thought I repeat them so often.
Implore for me from God’s providence all the help I need to get through life. May your generous hand bestow on me the material means to satisfy my needs, and to alleviate the plight of the poor.
Good Saint Ann, pray that I may praise and thank the Holy Trinity for all eternity.