Patron Saint of Married Couples

Category: Family & States of Life

Ss. Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, were the first married couple to be canonized together by the Catholic Church. They were beatified in 2008 and canonized by Pope Francis in 2015. They are invoked as patrons of married couples and families.

The Wedding at Cana is associated with Our Lady's intercession for the needs of married couples, and St. Joseph is invoked for family life. No single saint has been formally declared the universal patron of married couples, though the Martins' canonization represents the Church's clearest modern statement about the sanctity possible within marriage.

Patron Saint of Married Couples

Formally proclaimed patronage — sourced from canonized saints in the Roman Calendar.

Primary Patron
Saints Joachim and Anne

Feast Day
July 26

Saints Joachim and Anne is invoked as patron of married couples. The Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne honors the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the maternal grandparents of Jesus Christ. The names of Joachim and Anne are not given in the canonical Gospels but appear in the second-century Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal narrative which, while not received into Scripture by the Catholic Church, was respected as an early witness to traditions about Mary's birth and infancy. Sources: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/nonni/documents/20210531-messaggio-nonni-anziani.html.

Read full biography of Saints Joachim and Anne →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the patron saint of married couples?

Saints Joachim and Anne is the primary patron saint of married couples. Their feast day is July 26.

What is a patron saint?

A patron saint is a holy man or woman canonized by the Church whose life and heavenly intercession are considered especially powerful for particular needs, groups, or situations. Catholics ask patron saints to intercede — to pray to God on their behalf — drawing on the doctrine of the Communion of Saints.

How do I ask for Joachim and Anne's intercession?

To ask for a patron saint's intercession, Catholics typically pray directly to the saint, saying something like: "Joachim and Anne, pray for us." You may also light a candle, attend Mass on their feast day, or make a novena — nine days of consecutive prayer — asking for their help before a particular need.