Next week, on July 26, we celebrate the Feast of St. Ann, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus. She has great intercessory influence with her Grandson.

    Until a few years ago, I did not have much devotion to St. Ann, but since meeting a Canadian mystic, who sees St. Ann daily, I have come to love and call on Grandma St. Ann frequently.

    Because she has such influence on her Grandson, it would be wise and good for us to count St. Ann among our close friends and ask her to assist us in our needs.

    Tradition and accounts of mystics claim that St. Ann and her husband, Joachim, were well to do, but childless for many years. To a Jewish couple in those days, this was a great heartbreak. But God heard their tear-filled prayers and at the age of about 58, St. Ann conceived a child who was to become the mother of the Savior, Jesus.

    St. Ann taught little Mary about God and the meaning of the Ten Commandments. This is why we see in pictures or statues of St. Ann that she is pointing to something in a book, as she teaches her little daughter.

    Tradition, also, has it that St. Ann died before Mary was 10 years of age and eventually her body was taken to what is now France by Lazarus and his sisters who had been banished from Palestine for their Faith. St. Ann’s remains were taken to the city of Apt, France and buried in an underground Church due to the persecutions in the Roman Empire. With the overrunning of barbarians for many years, the exact spot of St. Ann’s burial was lost for awhile. However, they were rediscovered after Mass one Easter Sunday at the Cathedral of Apt by a 14 year-old boy who was deaf, mute, and blind since birth.

    He excitedly made signs with his staff that people should dig beneath the steps of the main altar. Upon doing so, a walled cavern was found and the light of a burning lamp flooded the place with extraordinary brightness. No sooner had the diggers entered the chamber when the light went out and the disadvantaged boy could speak, see, and hear. His first words were: “The body of St. Ann, mother of the Virgin Mary, is in yonder recess.”

    As the recess was opened, a sweet fragrance filled the air and a cypress casket was discovered. It contained the body of St. Ann, which was wrapped in precious cloth. On the casket was inscribed the words: “Here lies the body of blessed Ann, mother of the Virgin Mary.”

    How fitting that someone who was hindered from speaking could clearly voice the announcement of this miraculous discovery for it was a relative on Ann's or Joachim's side who was the parent of Elizabeth, who married Zachary. It was Zachary who was struck dumb when he hesitated in announcing the name of their son-to-be John the Baptist. His total speech impairment happened while he was praying in the Holy of Holies Temple and this continued until their child was born. After he had lovingly backed up Elizabeth's proclamation of their son's name by writing it on a tablet, he was healed immediately. So also the young deaf, dumb and blind boy upon discovery of Ann's tomb.

    Millions of people throughout the years have loved and honored St. Ann. Many powerful miracles and conversions have come about with the aid of her prayers. Miracles happened in Ann's time and they continue today. All we need to do is believe!

    I would encourage you to consider St. Ann a special friend. I'm including here the Novena to St. Ann so you, too, can grow gloser to this wonderful grandmother in Heaven.

NOVENA TO SAINT ANN
To obtain some special favor

    Glorious St. Ann, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I commend to you under your special protection. (Mention your petition.)

    Vouchsafe to commend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints, praising and blessing Him for all eternity. Amen.

    Good St. Ann, mother of her who is our life, our sweetness and our hope, pray to her for me and obtain my request. (Repeat three times.)

    Happy Feast of St. Ann and God bless you!

Sister Mary Lucy Astuto

July 21-23, 2000
volume 11, no. 124
Sr. Lucy's GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER column

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