St. Anne Medals | Mothers & Grandmothers Necklace

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is St. Anne the patron saint of?

St. Anne is the patron saint of mothers, grandmothers, childless couples, pregnant women, homemakers, miners, equestrians, and the nation of Canada. Her patronage of mothers and grandmothers flows directly from her identity as the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus Christ — she is the first link in the maternal chain that brought the Savior into the world. Her intercession is especially sought by women navigating infertility, those hoping for a safe pregnancy, and grandmothers who see passing on the Catholic faith as their most important work.

Who was St. Anne in the life of the early Church?

St. Anne was the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the maternal grandmother of Jesus, according to early Christian tradition recorded in the Protoevangelium of James. She and her husband Joachim endured twenty years of childlessness before an angel announced that they would conceive a daughter to be dedicated to God — that daughter was Mary. Though Anne does not appear by name in the canonical New Testament, her story was widely known and venerated from the earliest centuries of Christianity, and Pope Gregory XIII established her feast day on July 26 for the universal Church.

Is St. Anne a good patron saint for someone struggling with infertility?

Yes — St. Anne is one of the most beloved intercessors for couples experiencing infertility because she lived that struggle herself for two decades before conceiving Mary. Her story is not one of quick answers but of sustained faith through a long and painful wait, which makes her a deeply relatable companion for anyone in a similar season. Many Catholics beginning fertility treatments, waiting through the adoption process, or simply trusting God through unexplained infertility choose to wear a St. Anne medal as a daily prayer and reminder that she understands their longing from personal experience.

When is St. Anne's feast day, and why does it matter for gifts?

St. Anne's feast day is July 26, celebrated jointly with her husband St. Joachim. This date falls in the same week as World Grandparents Day, which Pope Francis established and which is observed on the fourth Sunday of July — creating a natural cluster of gift occasions centered on grandmothers and family. A St. Anne medal given on or near her feast day carries special devotional significance, connecting the recipient to centuries of Catholic tradition honoring the grandmother of Jesus. Combined with Mother's Day in May, this gives St. Anne's medal three strong gift windows across the year.

What does a St. Anne medal look like, and what imagery does it typically show?

A classic St. Anne medal depicts her with the young Virgin Mary at her side, often in a scene showing Anne teaching Mary to read from scripture — an image that has made her a symbol of maternal formation and the passing on of faith. Some medals show Anne holding the child Mary on her lap, while others include the Christ Child to represent the full Holy Family lineage. The reverse of many medals carries a traditional prayer or the letters and symbols associated with Marian devotion. Our Bliss Manufacturing medals are struck with fine detail in sterling silver, 14kt gold filled, and 14kt solid gold.

Are the St. Anne medals at rosarycard.net made in the USA?

Yes — every St. Anne medal we sell is crafted in the United States by Bliss Manufacturing, a trusted name in Catholic religious jewelry for decades. Bliss medals are struck from high-quality metals including sterling silver, 14kt gold filled, and 14kt solid gold, and each one is backed by our lifetime guarantee against tarnishing, breakage, or fading. Buying USA-made means you are supporting American craftsmanship while receiving a medal built to be worn every day and passed down through generations — exactly the kind of heirloom a St. Anne medal is meant to be.

The Story of St. Anne

St. Anne is not named in the canonical Gospels, but her story comes to us through the Protoevangelium of James, an early Christian text dating to the second century, and through centuries of consistent Church tradition. She and her husband Joachim were a devout Jewish couple who suffered the social shame of childlessness for twenty years — a condition that, in their culture, was sometimes interpreted as divine disfavor. Joachim was reportedly turned away from the Temple when he attempted to offer sacrifice, deepening the couple's grief. Then an angel appeared to Anne in her garden and to Joachim separately, each receiving the same promise: they would conceive a child who would be spoken of throughout the world. Anne conceived, and the child born of that miraculous pregnancy was Mary, who would herself become the mother of Jesus. St. Anne's story is one of persevering faith through a long season of waiting — and the reward that came not just to her family, but to all of humanity. Pope Gregory XIII made her feast universal for the Latin Church, and it has been celebrated on July 26 ever since.

Why Catholics Wear a St. Anne Medal

A St. Anne medal is worn as an act of devotion to the woman who raised the Mother of God — and as an appeal for her intercession in the particular struggles and joys of family life. Classic medal imagery depicts St. Anne seated with the young Virgin Mary at her side, sometimes showing Anne teaching Mary to read from scripture, a scene that has made her a symbol of Catholic education and maternal formation. Some medals show the Holy Family grouping of Anne, Mary, and the Christ Child together. Wearing this medal is a way of placing oneself under the protection of a woman who knew both the anguish of infertility and the incomparable joy of raising a child destined for holiness. Women navigating infertility treatments, couples waiting to adopt, pregnant mothers seeking a safe delivery, and grandmothers who see their primary vocation as handing on the faith — all find a particular connection to St. Anne and carry her medal as a daily reminder that she walks with them.

Our St. Anne Medal Collection

Our St. Anne medals are made in the USA by Bliss Manufacturing, a family-owned company with decades of experience producing Catholic religious jewelry to the highest standards. Every medal comes with a lifetime guarantee — if it ever tarnishes, breaks, or fades, we make it right. Choose from sterling silver, 14kt gold filled, and 14kt solid gold, available in small, medium, and large sizes to suit every preference and budget. Chain lengths range from 18 to 24 inches, and all orders over $40 ship free. Whether you are shopping for yourself or for someone you love, you will find the right combination of metal, size, and style in our collection. For related devotional medals, explore our St. Gerard Majella medals for expectant mothers, our St. Monica medals for mothers who pray for their children, and our St. Gianna Molla medals for mothers who embrace life's sacrifices with joy.

Giving a St. Anne Medal as a Gift

Three distinct gift windows make a St. Anne medal one of the most versatile Catholic jewelry gifts of the year. Mother's Day in May is the most obvious — a St. Anne necklace honors a mother's vocation in a way that a generic gift simply cannot. World Grandparents Day, established by Pope Francis and celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, falls just days after St. Anne's feast on July 26, creating a natural opportunity to honor a grandmother with the medal of her patron saint. A baby shower gift of a St. Anne medal is especially meaningful when paired with a note about her story — the mother-to-be receives not just jewelry but an invitation into a lineage of faithful motherhood stretching back to the first century. For someone beginning infertility treatment or waiting through an adoption process, a St. Anne medal communicates hope and solidarity in a way words alone rarely can. All orders arrive in gift-ready packaging, and free shipping applies to orders over $40.