DAY 8-Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica

After breakfast at L’Omelette, we traveled to The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré set along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada.  

Legend has it that the church was originally founded by fishermen who were lost for days in a storm and prayed to St.Anne to save them.  They promised to build a church in her honor wherever they landed.  I was raised Catholic and did not know the. history of Sainte Anne who was the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The present-day basilica was built in 1926 on the site of the prior church.

                The details in the ornate copper front doors were extraordinary. 

The intricate tile work prominently displayed in many areas of the church takes years to complete. Once I met a tile master in the Palermo Cathedral who explained that her entire life’s work would be to retile the foyer floor.  I found it incredible that this young girl was so devoted to the Church.

          

                           

The foyer below  was bookended with a baptismal font on one side representing the beginning of life and the other end with a crucifixion scene representing the end of life.    The altar on the crucifixion side was designed to look like a coffin.

The Catholic Church credited many miracles of curing the sick and disabled have occurred within the Basilica.  Two pillars near the entrance are filled with racks of crutches, canes, braces, and other signs of disabilities. Each item has been left by a pilgrim who reports being healed at the Basilica.

        

Below are several picturing depicting the overwhelmingly beautiful Basilica.

In all Catholic Churches there are devotional candle areas where you can make a donation and offer up prayers for your loved ones or special desires. 

Beautifully decorated ceiling work below.

This is a small altar devotional area dedicated to Sainte Anne as many parishioners and visitors expressed a desire to pray directly to her.