St. Anne was born and raised in Bethlehem and became a devoted wife to Joachim, a shepherd from Nazareth in Galilee. After more than 20 years with no children, their prayers were answered and Anne gave birth to a baby daughter and called her Mary. Mary was later chosen to be the mother of the Christ. As a wife and mother Anne’s days were long with the household chores and caring for the needs of her family (this was top priority). Like the Jewish women of her day, she took on the added responsibilities of raising their animals, gardening and harvesting. She cherished the special time with her daughter when she was a little girl. St. Anne was a loving grandmother to Mary’s son Jesus as he grew up in Jerusalem and it is believed that Jesus was with her when she died. It is also believed that when Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, Martha and other friends of Jesus crossed the Mediterranean Sea to spread the news of His death and resurrection through Southern France, they brought with them the remains of Anne and had a Bishop bury them there. Today St. Anne is a patron in many places including Quebec and also for grandmothers throughout the Christian world. She is the patron saint of the 37 Mi’kmaq First Nations throughout Atlantic Canada. Anne, like St.Francis and St. Martin, is associated with the qualities of caring, wisdom and kindness well into her old age, as well as living a full life of simplicity, devotion and dedication.
