St. Anne Coloring Page
This St. Anne coloring page shows the grandmother of Jesus seated under a laurel tree, teaching her young daughter Mary to read from a big book, with a bird's nest in the branches. The PDF is free to print. Anne and her husband Joachim were the parents of the Virgin Mary.
The story of St. Anne
Did you know that Jesus had a grandma? Her name was Anne, and she was the mother of the Virgin Mary.
The Bible does not tell us about her, but a very old Christian story does. It says that Anne and her husband, St. Joachim, loved God very much, but for many years they had no children. They were sad, and they prayed and prayed.
One day Anne sat in her garden under a laurel tree. She looked up and saw a nest of baby birds in the branches, and she cried, because even the little birds had babies. She asked God again for a child.
Then an angel came and said, "Anna, Anna, the Lord has heard your prayer!" At the very same time, an angel told Joachim to hurry home. Anne ran to meet him at the gate and hugged him, full of joy.
Soon Anne had a baby girl, and they named her Mary. Anne and Joachim taught Mary to love God and to pray. Mary grew up to be the mother of Jesus!
That makes St. Anne the patron saint of grandmothers and grandfathers, and of mothers, too. We celebrate Anne and Joachim together on July 26.
What to color
- Anne's robe and mantle: red and green, the colors on many of her statues.
- Young Mary: white or light blue. Blue is the color often used for Mary.
- The big book: brown or gold, for the Scriptures Anne taught her daughter to love.
- The laurel tree and nest: green leaves, a brown nest and two little birds, for the story of Anne's prayer.
- The lilies: white, a sign of Mary's pure heart.
A prayer to pray together
On their feast, the Church prays at Mass that "through the prayers of both," Joachim and Anne, "we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people." Children can pray:
St. Anne and St. Joachim, pray for us, and bless all grandmothers and grandfathers.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on July 26 and give it to a grandparent.
- Pope Francis began the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, kept on the fourth Sunday of July, close to their feast. Call, write to or visit a grandparent or an older friend.
- Ask a grandparent to teach you a prayer they learned when they were young.
- Draw your own family tree, with Jesus, Mary, Anne and Joachim at the top of the page.
- Talk about it: what is something a grandparent or older person has taught you?
Read the full story: St. Anne in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Anne?
Statues of St. Anne usually give her a red robe and a green mantle. Young Mary is often dressed in white or light blue. Make the tree and grass green and the book brown or gold.
Why is St. Anne teaching Mary to read?
No old story says exactly how Anne taught Mary, but artists loved to picture a mother teaching her daughter to read the Scriptures and love God. It shows that faith is passed on at home.
Is St. Anne in the Bible?
The Bible does not tell us the names of Mary's parents. Their names, Anne and Joachim, come from a very old Christian writing from the 2nd century, and the Church has honored them for many centuries.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.