Joachim and Anne, parents of The Blessed Virgin Mary – July 26th
St Anne (Relics: Apt, France; Bologna, Italy; Sainte-Anne d’Auray, France; Sainte-Anne de Beaupré, Quebec, Canada; Vienna, Austria)
Historically the tombs of Saints Joachim and Anne have been thought to rest below the Church of St Anne in Jerusalem. (Formerly called St Mary in Probatica.) However, at present this tradition is not noted in the church.
First Class Relics
Cathédrale Sainte-Anne / La Cathédrale d’Apt
(Saint Anne’s Cathedral / Cathedral of Apt)
44 Place de la Cathédrale
84400 Apt, France
*The first chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Anne. A reliquary niche within this chapel contains busts of several saints including St Anne.
*It is uncertain how the relics of St Anne arrived in this church. Popular legend claims that they were brought by St Lazarus in the 1st century. However, it is more likely that they were transferred from the Holy Land to Constantinople and then brought to France after 1204 AD.
Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne d’Auray
(Sanctuary of Saint Anne of Auray)
9 Rue de Vannes
56400 Sainte-Anne d’Auray, France
*A small chapel dedicated to St Anne was destroyed at this location in the 7th century. Ten centuries later it is said that St Anne began appearing to a simple villager and requested that a new church be built over this ancient chapel. A sanctuary was then built and a relic of St Anne was given to this church as a gift.
Cattedrale di San Pietro
(Cathedral of Saint Peter)
Via Indipendenza 7
40126 Bologna, Italy
*The head of St Anne is said to rest within a reliquary in the second chapel on the right side of the nave.
*In 1435 the King of England, Henry VI, gave this relic to the city of Bologna after their bishop, Blessed Nicolò Albergati, smoothed relations between England and France during the 100 Years’ War.
Annakirche (Saint Anne’s Church)
Annagasse 3b
1010 Vienna, Austria
*A relic of St Anne’s hand is preserved within this church. Each year this relic is brought out on July 26th for public veneration.
Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne de Beaupré
(Sanctuary of Saint Anne of Beaupré)
10018 Avenue Royale
Sainte-Anne de Beaupré, Quebec, G0A C30, Canada
*During the last four centuries this shrine has obtained three relics of St Anne. In 1670 it obtained a portion of a bone from her finger. Then in 1892 and again in 1960 the shrine received two separate forearm bones. One of these forearm bones is currently enshrined in the left transept of the upper church.
Churches of Honor in Jerusalem
Church of St Anne
91190 Jerusalem, Israel
*Formerly this church was called St Mary in Probatica.
*Tradition claims that this church rests over the house of Saints Joachim and Anne. Thus it is presumed that the Blessed Virgin Mary was born here. The crypt below this church honors this tradition. Also located just outside of this church is the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
*Historically the tombs of Saints Joachim and Anne have also been thought to rest below this church. However, at present this tradition is not noted in the church.
Churches of Honor in Rome
San Gioacchino ai Prati di Castello
(Saint Joachim at the Meadows of the Castle)
Piazza dei Quiriti 17
Rome, Italy
*This church is located north of Castel Sant’Angelo and it is dedicated to St Joachim.
Sant'Andrea delle Fratte (Saint Andrew of the Bushes)
Via Sant'Andrea delle Fratte 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*The chapel in the left transept is dedicated to St Anne. A sculpture under the altar of this chapel, completed by Giovanni Battista Maini, is entitled The Dying of St Anne.
*The third altar on the left side of the nave is where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Ratisbonne, an agnostic Jew, in 1842. Ratisbonne converted on the spot. In 1918 Fr. Maximilian Mary Kolbe (d. 1941) offered his first Mass in this very same chapel.
San Carlo ai Catinari (Saint Charles at the Catinari)
Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 117
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Largo di Torre Argentina.
*The second chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Anne.
Sant’Ignazio (Saint Ignatius)
Via del Caravita 8/a
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Pantheon.
*The third chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Joachim. The large painting within this chapel, completed by Stefano Pozzi, is entitled The Virgin Presented by Joachim to God the Father. Also under the altar of this chapel is the body of St Robert Bellarmine.
Santa Maria in Campitelli (Our Lady in Campitelli)
Piazza di Campitelli 9
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Jewish quarter.
*The second chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Anne.
*The body of St John Leonardi (d. 1609) is enshrined in the second chapel on the left side of the nave.
Santi Gioacchino e Anna ai Monti
(Saints Joachim and Anne at the Hills)
Via Monte Polacco 5
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Cavour metro stop. It is dedicated to both St Joachim and St Anne. It is not open often.
Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri (St Anne of the Palafrenieri)
Via di Porta Angelica
Rome, Italy
*This is the parish church of the Vatican. It is dedicated to St Anne.
San Pietro in Montorio (Saint Peter in Montorio)
Piazza San Pietro in Montorio 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is located on the Janiculum hill.
*The third chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Anne.
Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano
(The Most Holy Name of Mary at Trajan’s Forum)
Piazza Foro Traiano 89
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Trajan’s column just east of Piazza Venezia.
*A painting within the second chapel on the right side of the nave depicts St Anne teaching Mary how to read.
Gesu e Maria (Jesus and Mary)
Via del Corso 45
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza del Popolo. It is dedicated to the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
*The third chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Anne.
Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Our Lady in Aracoeli)
Piazza del Campidoglio 4
Rome, Italy
*This church is on top of the Capitoline Hill.
*The fourth chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Anne.
*Also relics of St Helena, the mother of Constantine, rest in the left transept.