Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => The Sacred: Catholic Liturgy, Chant, Prayers => Topic started by: Lover of Truth on July 23, 2014, 05:21:41 AM
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http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/11Jul/jul26ftt.htm
The Mother of the Mother of God
Meditation on the Treasure that is Saint Anne
There is much to contemplate on the intricate and intimate role good Saint Anne played in bringing forth the Immaculate Conception. In cooperation with God and her holy husband Saint Joachim, she nourished the only person ever conceived without sin for a purpose she did not know except for her love of God and the child she carried. Staying true to her mission she dedicated and raised the young child Mary to prepare her for the greatest story ever told: the Redemption of mankind.
"Anne was, as it were, the starting-point of redemption, the horizon scanned by the prophets, the first span of the heavens to be empurpled with the rising fires of dawn; the blessed soil whose produce was so pure as to make the angels believe that Eden had been restored to us. But in the midst of the incomparable peace that surrounds her, let us hail her as the land of victory surpassing the most famous fields of battle; as the sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception, where our humiliated race took up the combat begun before the throne of God by the Angelic hosts; where the serpent's head was crushed, and Michael, now surpassed in glory, gladly handed over to his sweet Queen, at the first moment of her existence, the command of the Lord's armies."
Dom Prosper Gueranger
Saint Anne, the mother of the Mother of Jesus, is one of many proofs of the good that results from conforming to the marriage law i.e. Saint Anne's womb becoming the sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. I will start this meditative narrative with a few paragraphs from Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii and continue with an account of Saint Anne by Abbe Dom Prosper Gueranger from The Liturgical Year with appropriate Scripture interspersed:
54. But no reason, however grave, may be put forward by which anything intrinsically against nature may become conformable to nature and morally good. Since, therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by nature for the begetting of children, those who in exercising it deliberately frustrate its natural power and purpose sin against nature and commit a deed which is shameful and intrinsically vicious.
55. Small wonder, therefore, if Holy Writ bears witness that the Divine Majesty regards with greatest detestation this horrible crime and at times has punished it with death. As St. Augustine notes, "Intercourse even with one's legitimate wife is unlawful and wicked where the conception of the offspring is prevented. Onan, the son of Juda, did this and the Lord killed him for it."[St. August., De coniug. adult., lib. II, n. 12, Gen, XXXVIII, 8-10]
56. Since, therefore, openly departing from the uninterrupted Christian tradition some recently have judged it possible solemnly to declare another doctrine regarding this question, the Catholic Church, to whom God has entrusted the defense of the integrity and purity of morals, standing erect in the midst of the moral ruin which surrounds her, in order that she may preserve the chastity of the nuptial union from being defiled by this foul stain, raises her voice in token of her divine ambassadorship and through Our mouth proclaims anew: any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin.
57. We admonish, therefore, priests who hear confessions and others who have the care of souls, in virtue of Our supreme authority and in Our solicitude for the salvation of souls, not to allow the faithful entrusted to them to err regarding this most grave law of God; much more, that they keep themselves immune from such false opinions, in no way conniving in them. If any confessor or pastor of souls, which may God forbid, lead the faithful entrusted to him into these errors or should at least confirm them by approval or by guilty silence, let him be mindful of the fact that he must render a strict account to God, the Supreme Judge, for the betrayal of his sacred trust, and let him take to himself the words of Christ: "They are blind and leaders of the blind: and if the blind lead the blind, both fall into the pit. [Matth., XV, 14] POPE PIUS XI, CASTI CONNUBII, 12/31/1930 [emphasis mine]
"And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth" (Genesis 1:28)
Uniting the blood of kings with that of pontiffs, the glory of Anne's illustrious origin is far surpassed by that of her offspring, without compare among the daughters of Eve. The noblest of all who have ever conceived by virtue of the command to 'increase and multiply,' beholds the law of human generation pause before her as having arrived at its summit, at the threshold of God; for from her fruit God Himself is to come forth, the fatherless Son of the Blessed Virgin, and the grandson of Anne and Joachim.
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw His glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (St. John 1:14).
Before being favoured with the greatest blessing ever bestowed on an earthly union, the two holy grandparents of the Word made Flesh had to pass through the purification of suffering. Traditions which, though mingled with details of less authenticity, have come down to us from the very beginning of Christianity, tell us of these noble spouses subjected to the trial of prolonged sterility, and on that account despised by their people; of Joachim cast out of the temple and going to hide his sorrow in the desert; of Anne left alone to mourn her widowhood and humiliation. For exquisite sentiment this narrative might be compared with the most beautiful histories in Holy Scripture.
"And Rachel seeing herself without children, envied her sister, and said to her husband: Give me children, otherwise I shall die. And Jacob being angry with her, answered: Am I as God, who hath deprived thee of the fruit of thy womb?" (Genesis 30: 1-2)
It was one of the great festival days of the Lord. In spite of extreme sorrow, Anne laid aside her mourning garments, and adorned her head and clothed herself with her nuptial robes. And about the ninth hour she went down to the garden to walk; seeing a laurel she sat down in its shade, and poured forth her prayer to the Lord God, saying: "God of my fathers, bless me and hear my supplication, as Thou didst bless Sara and didst give her a son!"
'And raising her eyes to Heaven, she saw in the laurel a sparrow's nest, and sighing she said: "Alas! Of whom was I born to be thus a curse in Israel?
To whom shall I liken me? I cannot liken me to the birds of the air; for the birds are blessed by Thee, O Lord.
'"To whom shall I liken me? I cannot liken me to the waters; for they are not barren in thy sight, and the rivers and the oceans full of fish praise thee in their heavings and in their peaceful flowing.
'"To whom shall I liken me? I cannot liken me even to the earth, for the earth too bears fruit in season, and praises thee, O Lord."
"And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus." (St. Luke 1: 26-27, 30-31)
And behold an angel of the Lord stood by, and said to her: "Anne, God has heard thy prayer; thou shalt conceive and bear a child, and thy fruit shall be honoured throughout the whole inhabited earth." And in due time Anne brought forth a daughter, and said: "My soul is magnified this hour." And she called the child Mary; and giving her the breast, she intoned this canticle to the Lord:
'"I will sing the praise of the Lord my God: for he has visited me and has taken away my shame, and has given me a fruit of justice. Who shall declare to the sons of Ruben that Anne is become fruitful: Hear, hear, O ye twelve tribes: behold Anne is giving suck!"' (Protevengelium JACOBI)
The feast of St. Joachim, which the Church celebrates on the day following his blessed daughter's Assumption, will give us an occasion of completing the account of these trials and joys in which he shared. Warned from Heaven to leave the desert, he met his spouse at the golden gate which leads to the Temple on the east side. Not far from here, near the Probatica piscine, where the little white lambs were washed before being offered in sacrifice, now stands the restored basilica of St. Anne originally called St. Mary of the Nativity. Here, as in a peaceful paradise, the rod of Jesse produced that blessed branch which the prophet hailed as about to bear the flower that had blossomed from eternity in the bosom of the Father. It is true that Sepphoris, Anne's native city, and Nazareth, where Mary lived, dispute with the Holy City the honour which ancient and constant tradition assigns to Jerusalem. But our homage will not be misdirected if we offer it to-day to blessed Anne, in whom were wrought the prodigies, the very thought of which brings new joy to Heaven, rage to Satan, and triumph to the world.
"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh. This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in the church" (Ephesians 5: 31-32).
Anne was, as it were, the starting-point of redemption, the horizon scanned by the prophets, the first span of the heavens to be empurpled with the rising fires of dawn; the blessed soil whose produce was so pure as to make the angels believe that Eden had been restored to us. But in the midst of the incomparable peace that surrounds her, let us hail her as the land of victory surpassing the most famous fields of battle; as the sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception, where our humiliated race took up the combat begun before the throne of God by the Angelic hosts; where the serpent's head was crushed, and Michael, now surpassed in glory, gladly handed over to his sweet Queen, at the first moment of her existence, the command of the Lord's armies.
What human lips, unless touched like the prophet's with a burning coal, could tell the admiring wonder of the angelic Powers, when the Blessed Trinity, passing from the burning Seraphim to the lowest of the nine choirs, bade them turn their fiery glances and contemplate the flower of sanctity blossoming in the bosom of Anne? The Psalmist had said of the glorious City whose foundations were now hidden her that was once barren: The foundations thereof are in the holy mountains, (Ps. lxxxvi. x.) and the heavenly hierarchies crowning the slopes of the eternal hills beheld in her heights to them unknown and unattainable summits approaching so near to God, that He was even then preparing His throne in her. Like Moses at the sight of the burning bush on Horeb, they were seized with a holy awe on recognizing the mountain of God in the midst of the desert of this world; and they understood that the affliction of Israel was soon to cease. Although shrouded by the cloud, Mary was already that blessed mountain whose base - i.e., the starting-point of her graces - was set far above the summits where the highest created sanctities are perfected in glory and love.
How justly is the mother named Anne, which signifies grace, she in whom for nine months were centered the complacencies of the Most High, the ecstasy of the angelic spirits, and the hope of all flesh! No doubt it was Mary, the daughter, and not the mother, whose sweetness so powerfully attracted the heavens to our lowly earth. But the perfume first scents the vessel which contains it, and, even after it is removed, leaves it impregnated with its fragrance. Moreover, it is customary to prepare the vase itself with the greatest care; it must be all the purer, made of more precious material, and more richly adorned, according as the essence to be placed in it is rarer and more exquisite. Thus Magdalen enclosed her precious spikenard in alabaster. The Holy Spirit, the preparer of heavenly perfumes, would not be less careful than men. Now the task of blessed Anne was not limited, like that of a material vase, to containing passively the treasure of the world. She furnished the body of her who was to give flesh to the Son of God; she nourished her with her milk; she gave to her, who was inundated with floods of divine light, the first practical notions of life. In the education of her illustrious daughter, Anne played the part of a true mother: not only did she guide Mary's first steps, but she co-operated with the Holy ghost in the education of her soul and the preparation for her incomparable destiny; until, when the work had reached the highest development to which she could bring it, she, without a moment's hesitation or a thought of self, offered her tenderly loved child to Him from whom she had received her.
"And all these blessings shall come upon thee and overtake thee: yet so if thou hear his precepts. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the droves of thy herds, and the folds of thy sheep" (Deuteronomy 28:2-4).
Sic fingit tabernaculum Deo - 'Thus she frames a tabernacle for God.' Such was the inscription around the figure of St. Anne instructing Mary, which formed the device of the ancient guild of joiners and cabinet-makers; for they, looking upon the making of tabernacles wherein God may dwell in our churches as their most choice work, had taken St. Anne for their patroness and model. Happy were those times when the simplicity of our fathers penetrated so deeply into the practical understanding of mysteries which their infatuated sons glory in ignoring. The valiant woman is praised in the Book of Proverbs for her spinning, weaving, sewing, embroidering, and household cares: naturally, then, those engaged in these occupations placed themselves under the protection of the spouse of Joachim. More than once, those suffering from the same trial which had inspired Anne's touching prayer beneath the sparrow's nest, experienced the power of her intercession in obtaining for others, as well as for herself, the blessing of the Lord God.
The East anticipated the West in the public cultus of the grandmother of the Messias. Towards the middle of the sixth century a church was dedicated to her in Constantinople. The typicon of St. Sabbas makes a liturgical commemoration of her three times in the year: on September 9, together with her spouse St. Joachim, the day after the birthday of their glorious daughter; on December 9, whereon the Greeks, a day later than the Latins, keep the feast of our Lady's Immaculate Conception, under a title which more directly expresses St. Anne's share in the mystery; and lastly, July 25, not being occupied by the feast of St. James, which was kept on April 30, is called the Dormitio or precious death of St. Anne, mother of the most holy Mother of God: the very same expression which the Roman martyrology adopted later.
Although Rome, with her usual reserve, did not until much later authorize the introduction into the Latin Churches of a liturgical feast of St. Anne, she nevertheless encouraged the piety of the faithful in this direction. So early as the time of Leo III (795-816) and by that illustrious Pontiff's express command, the history of Anne and Joachim was represented on the sacred ornaments of the noblest basilicas in the Eternal City. (Lib. Pontiff. In Leon. III) The Order of Carmel, so devout to St. Anne, powerfully contributed, by its fortunate migration into our countries, to the growing increase of her cultus. Moreover, this development was the natural outcome of the progress of devotion among the people to the Mother of God. The close relation between the two cults is noticed in a concession, whereby in 381 Urban VI satisfied the desires of the faithful in England by authorizing for that kingdom a feast of the blessed Anne. The Church of Apt in Provence had been already a century in possession of the feast; a fact due to the honour bestowed on that Church of having received, almost together with the faith, the saint's holy body, in the first age of Christianity.
"Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves. For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature" (Romans 1: 24, 26).
Since our Lord, reigning in Heaven, has willed that His blessed Mother should also be crowned there in her virginal body, the relics of Mary's mother have become doubly dear to the world, first, as in the case of others, on account of the holiness of her whose precious remains they are, and then above all others, on account of their close connection with the mystery of the Incarnation. The Church of Apt was so generous out of its abundance, that it would now be impossible to enumerate the sanctuaries which have obtained, either from this principal source or from elsewhere, more or less notable portions of these precious relics. We cannot omit to mention as one of these privileged places, the great basilica of St. Paul outside the walls: St. Anne herself, in an apparition to St. Bridget of Sweden, (Revelationes S. Birgittae, lib. VI, cap. 104.) confirmed the authenticity of the arm which forms one of the most precious jewels in the rich treasury of that Church.
It was not until 1584 that Gregory XIII ordered the celebration of this of July 26 throughout the whole Church, with the rite of a double. Leo XIII in recent times (1879) raised it, together with that of St. Joachim, to the dignity of a solemnity of the second class. But before that, Gregory XV, after having been cured of a serious illness by St. Anne, had ranked her feast among those of precept, with the obligation of resting from servile work.
Now that St. Anne was receiving the homage due to her exalted dignity, she made haste to show her recognition of this more solemn tribute of praise. In the years 1623, 1624, and 1625, in the village of Kerouanne, near Auray, in Brittany, she appeared to Yves Nicolazic, and discovered to him an ancient statue buried in the field of Bocenno, which he tenanted. This discovery brought the people once more to the place where, a thousand years before, the inhabitants of ancient Armorica had honoured that statue. Innumerable graces obtained on the spot spread its fame far beyond the limits of the province, whose faith, worthy of past ages, had merited the favour of the grandmother of the Messias; and St Anne d'Auray was soon reckoned among the chief pilgrimages of the Christian world.
"Marriage honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. For fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13: 4).
More fortunate than the wife of Elcana, who prefigured thee both in her trial and by her name, thou, O Anne, now singest the magnificent gifts of the Lord. Where is now the proud ѕуηαgσgυє that despised thee? Thee descendants of the barren one are now without number; and all we, the brethren of Jesus, children, like Him, of thy daughter Mary, come joyfully, led by our Mother, to offer thee our praises. In the family circle the grandmother's feast day is the most touching of all, when her grandchildren surround her with reverential love, as we gather around thee to-day. Many, alas! Know not these beautiful feasts, where the blessing of the earthly paradise seems to revive in all its freshness; but the mercy of our God has provided a sweet compensation. He, the Most High God, willed to come so nigh to us as to be one of us in the flesh; to know the relations and mutual dependencies which are the law of our nature; the cords of Adam, with which He had determined to draw us and in which He first bound Himself. For in raising nature above itself, He did not eliminate it; He made grace take hold of it and lead it to heaven; so that, joined together on earth by their divine Author, nature and grace were to be united for all eternity. We, then, being brethren by grace of Him who is ever thy grandson by nature, are, by this loving disposition of Divine Wisdom, quite at home under thy roof; and to-day's feast, so dear to the hearts of Jesus and Mary, is our own family feast.
Smile then, dear mother, upon our chants and bless our prayers. To-day and always be propitious to the supplications which our land of sorrows sends up to thee. Be gracious to wives and mothers who confide to thee their holy desires and the secret of their sorrows. Keep up, where they still exist, the traditions of the Christian home. Over how many families has the baneful breath of this age passed, blighting all that is serious in life, weakening faith, leaving nothing but languor, weariness, frivolity, if not even worse, in the place of the true and solid joys of our fathers. How truly might the Wise Man say at the present day: Who shall find a valiant woman? She alone by her influence could counteract all these evils; but on condition of recognizing wherein her true strength lies: in humble household words done with her own hands; in hidden, self-sacrificing devotedness; in watchings by night; in hourly foresight; working in wool and flax, and with the spindle; all those strong things which win for her the confidence and praise of her husband; authority over all, abundance in the house, blessings from the poor whom she has helped, honour from strangers, reverence from her children; and for herself in the fear of the Lord, nobility and dignity, beauty and strength, wisdom, sweetness and content, and calm assurance at the latter day. (Cf. Prov. xxxi. 10-31)
"Juda, therefore said to Onan his son: Go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, that thou mayst raise seed to thy brother. He knowing that the children should not be his, when he went in to his brother's wife, spilled his seed upon the ground, lest children should be born in his brother's name. And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable thing" (Genesis 38: 8-10). [Emphasis mine]
In following the counsel of Christ in St. Matthew 6: 25-34 and St. Luke 12: 31, let us not thwart the will of the Lord but rather let us seek the first the kingdom of God, and His justice, and all else will be given to us.
"Catholics who remain faithful to Tradition, even if they are reduced to but a handful, they are THE TRUE CHURCH"
Saint Athanasius, "Apostle of Tradition" AD 373
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The Mysterious Relics of Saint Anne
On Easter AD 792, Charlemagne discovered the relics of Saint Anne with the help of a deaf handicapped boy. It’s a wonderful tale for this feast day of Saint Anne.
Below is the account, preserved in the correspondence of Pope Saint Leo III, concerning the mysterious discovery of the relics of Saint Anne in the presence of the Emperor Charlemagne.
Fourteen years after Our Lord’s death, Saint Mary Magdalen, Saint Martha, Saint Lazarus, and the others of the little band of Christians who were piled into a boat without sails or oars and pushed out to sea to perish — in the persecution of the Christians by the Jews of Jerusalem — were careful to carry with them the tenderly loved body of Our Lady’s mother. They feared lest it be profaned in the destruction, which Jesus had told them was to come upon Jerusalem. When, by the power of God, their boat survived and finally drifted to the shores of France, the little company of saints buried Saint Anne’s body in a cave, in a place called Apt, in the south of France. The church, which was later built over the spot, fell into decay because of wars and religious persecutions, and as the centuries passed, the place of Saint Anne’s tomb was forgotten.
The long years of peace, which Charlemagne’s wise rule gave to southern France, enabled the people to build a magnificent new church on the site of the old chapel at Apt. Extraordinary and painstaking labor went into the building of the great structure, and when the day of its consecration arrived [Easter Sunday, 792 A.D.], the beloved Charlemagne, little suspecting what was in store for him, declared himself happy indeed to have journeyed so many miles to be present for the holy occasion. At the most solemn part of the ceremonies, a boy of fourteen, blind, deaf and dumb from birth — and usually quiet and impassive — to the amazement of those who knew him, completely distracted the attention of the entire congregation by becoming suddenly tremendously excited. He rose from his seat, walked up the aisle to the altar steps, and to the consternation of the whole church, struck his stick resoundingly again and again upon a single step.
His embarrassed family tried to lead him out, but he would not budge. He continued frantically to pound the step, straining with his poor muted senses to impart a knowledge sealed hopelessly within him. The eyes of the people turned upon the emperor, and he, apparently in spired by God, took the matter into his own hands. He called for workmen to remove the steps.
A subterranean passage was revealed directly below the spot, which the boy’s stick had indicated. Into this pas sage the blind lad jumped, to be followed by the emperor, the priests, and the workmen.
They made their way in the dim light of candles, and when, farther along the pas sage, they came upon a wall that blocked further advance, the boy signed that this also should be removed. When the wall fell, there was brought to view still another long, dark corridor. At the end of this, the searchers found a crypt, upon which, to their profound wonderment, a vigil lamp, alight and burning in a little walled recess, cast a heavenly radiance.
As Charlemagne and his afflicted small guide, with their companions, stood be fore the lamp, its light went out. And at the same moment, the boy, blind and deaf and dumb from birth, felt sight and hearing and speech flood into his young eyes, his ears, and his tongue.
“It is she! It is she!” he cried out. The great emperor, not knowing what he meant, nevertheless repeated the words after him. The call was taken up by the crowds in the church above, as the people sank to their knees, bowed in the realization of the presence of something celestial and holy.
The crypt at last was opened, and a casket was found within it. In the casket was a winding sheet, and in the sheet were relics, and upon the relics was an inscription that read, “Here lies the body of Saint Anne, mother of the glorious Virgin Mary.” The winding sheet, it was noted, was of eastern design and texture.
Charlemagne, overwhelmed, venerated with profound gratitude the relics of the mother of Heaven’s Queen. He remained a long time in prayer. The priests and the people, awed by the graces given them in such abundance and by the choice of their countryside for such a heavenly manifestation, for three days spoke but rarely, and then in whispers.
The emperor had an exact and detailed account of the miraculous finding drawn up by a notary and sent to Pope Saint Leo III, with an accompanying letter from himself. These docuмents and the pope’s reply are preserved to this day. Many papal bulls have attested, over and over again, to the genuineness of Saint Anne’s relics at Apt.
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2014-07-26
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History of Saint Anne
The Basilica is a Sanctuary dedicated to Saint Anne. It is only natural then, that the first images which attract our attention would be about Saint Anne.
Even if we know very little about the life of Saint Anne, the simple fact of being the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus, is sufficient for the Church to recognize and worship her for centuries.
The entire ceiling mosaic of the Basilica describes the life of Saint Anne. It tells the story of her life, the life of a Jєωιѕн woman in that era. It speaks of her virtues, which by the way should be ours too. The vault also illustrates to us her glorification.
At the heart of the apse, just above the main altar, we see Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus. Saint Anne is giving a fruit to Jesus; which is not just a treat from a grandmother to her grandson, it is a marvelous symbol of His Mission as the Redemptor and Saviour of Humanity. It is not a Fruit of Death, like the fruit that Adam and Eve ate, but a Fruit of Life saving us from original sin.
In this glorification, these three people are surrounded by the many Blessed of our church, as well as Saint Joseph, Saint Joachim and Saint John the Baptist. In the background, one can see a large orchestra of elegant musical angels.
http://www.sanctuairesainteanne.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=174&lang=en
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Everything began in 1658 when Louis Guimont, suffering from excruciating back pain, came to help with the construction of the first chapel and was miraculously healed as a result. This would be the first of an endless series of healings. As early as 1665, an Ursuline nun, Blessed Marie de l'Incarnation, wrote the following words to her son:
"Seven leagues from here, there is a village called "The Little Cape", where there is a church dedicated to Saint Anne in which Our Lord is working great marvels in favour of the holy mother of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. There, the paralytics walk, the blind can see, and the sick are healed of every kind of illness."
- Marie de l'incarnation, 1665
The pilgrimage history of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is one that is marked by extraordinary events, which continue even to this day. Every year, the annual report published by Fr. Baillargeon relates about forty such events.
http://www.sanctuairesainteanne.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=175&lang=en
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Devotion to Sainte Anne throughout the world
Throughout the Orient
The Proto-gospel of James (also known as the Protoevangelium of James) was written around 150-200 A.D. and relates the touching story of Mary's own childhood and the nativity of Christ. This text spread throughout the Orient and therefore explains the diffusion of devotion to Saint Anne.
Then the Occident
Devotion to Saint Anne spread throughout the Occident, or Western World, thanks to various dealings with the Orient. During the Middle Ages, pilgrims, merchants, and Crusade soldiers travelling to Europe often spoke of and offered prayers to the parents of the Virgin Mary. Devotion was first seen in the south and then spread to the north of Europe. Countless works of art were created and are still found today throughout Europe due to the fervour of this devotion.
And finally in North America
Settlers, missionaries, and sailors coming from France brought devotion to Saint Anne to North America, where it was widely accepted, especially at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, where 350 years of devotion have already gone by. Saint Anne has become the patron saint of the province of Quebec and, as any good grandmother would do, has never stopped "spoiling" her little grandchildren.
http://www.sanctuairesainteanne.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=176&lang=en
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A gentleman from Sherbrooke came to the Shrine in February 2008. In 1980, he came on a pilgrimage to Saint Anne de Beaupré, when his situation was less than desireable. He worked in an office, but due to regular harassment at work, he was in a state of depression; he had even left his job for several weeks. He decided to come see Good Saint Anne at her Shrine. He made the trip from Sherbrooke to Saint Anne de Beaupré under a dark and cloudy sky. When he saw the Basilica on the boulevard, there was suddenly a bright light shining between the two bell towers; it gave him a kind of shock and a sign of hope. He spent the day at Saint Anne de Beaupré. The next morning, back in Sherbrooke, we received a phone call. He was offered a new job. He worked for 28 years in the same position and when it came time for him to retire he returned to thank Good Saint Anne.
http://www.sanctuairesainteanne.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=177&lang=en
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A couple from Macamic, Quebec went to the Saint Anne de Beaupré Shrine to plead with Saint Anne for a favour that they may have children. Leaving the Shrine, the young woman said to Good Saint Anne: “Will I have children some day?” At that moment, she saw a rainbow over the Saint Lawerence River and then another one appeared above the first one. “It’s a sign of the Covenant… with God’s help, we will be able to have children and we will have two.” Two years later, "I went to Medjugorje… as if Grandmother Saint Anne had invited me to meet her daughter.” Three years later, “after thirteen years of marriage I became pregnant on the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and our daughter was born on September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. We then had another daughter… We hope to return to the Shrine, along with our two girls.”
http://www.sanctuairesainteanne.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=177&lang=en
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A lady from Toronto sent her mother’s wedding ring as an ex-voto to the Shrine. A long time ago, she was afflicted by a terrible disease, considered incurable by doctors. She had been treated by specialists in New York, but in vain. It was a kind of eczema but of the worst kind. She could peel off the skin from her arms and it was excruciatingly painful. She was unable to dress herself because of this disease. She made a pilgrimage to Saint Anne de Beaupré, with Father Ambroise Maillet, parish priest of Salmon River, Nova Scotia. When she arrived at Saint Anne she used a pink coloured ointment. As she used it, it became clear so she discarded it, thinking that it would do her more harm. But from that moment she began to feel better. The cure was not instantaneous, but after some time, the eczema completely disappeared and never returned. "I was only a baby at the time, but Father Maillet told me again and again that my mother was healed by Good Saint Anne. She had told him that she wanted to send her wedding ring to Saint Anne de Beaupré in recognition of her recovery. She kept it with her for the rest of her life, since she wanted to be sure that her eczema did not recur. She lived to be over 100 years old and was never inconvenienced by it again. I have her ring and I sent it as a n ex-voto. I regret a little that my mother did not send it before. I know that my mother would want me to send her wedding ring to Saint Anne de Beaupré.
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A gentleman from Winnipeg had an “all black” foot. The doctor had told him that he would have to amputate the foot if the disease continued. He had friends in Quebec and they sent him a bottle of Saint Anne's oil, with a special prayer to be recited daily. Every evening he put the oil on his foot and it returned to good health. He returned to his work in the construction business.
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A lady from Loretteville, Quebec had been married for 10 years and the couple had no children. She came on a pilgrimage to Saint Anne de Beaupré. She celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation. She spoke to the priest of her desire to have a child. He suggested to her to go to the Blessings Office and ask for a special blessing. Ten days later she was pregnant.
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A lady from Montreal North came to pray at the Shrine with her 14 year old son. Her son was diagnosed by the doctors with an incurable heart disease. They informed the mother that her son had very little time to live. At the end of April 2007, she returned to the hospital with her son; all the symptoms had disappeared. She called the Shrine to thank Good Saint Anne.
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A lady from Chambord, Quebec wrote: “I had an operation seven years ago. My doctor had given me four to six months to live, due to stomach cancer. I prayed to Good Saint Anne and I am still alive today. The doctor told my children that I was “a small miracle.”
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“In mid-June 2005, my 12 year old grandson was badly burned on his right leg. After six weeks we were even fearing an amputation. From the beginning of July, we turned to Saint Anne and exhibited a statue with continuously lighted lamps on the table in the kitchen. My husband and I prayed fervently that which was herself was a grandmother. Jean-Christophe’s parents finally got an appointment at the major burn centre in Quebec City on July 26, the feast of the great Saint. We were now reassured that she had heard our appeal and that she would heal him. Our grandson was hospitalized and twice had to undergo transplants. He suffered a great deal. Throughout his illness we continued to pray to Saint Anne to grant him strength and courage, as well as his family who needed it greatly. In October he was able to resume his regular classes and gradually his other activities. We continue to pray to Saint Anne for his complete recovery so that he also recovers his great joie de vivre that he had before this accident that deeply affected him. “ (Lady of Mont-Louis) [Revue Sainte-Anne, p.4, January 2007]
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A young 12 or 13 year old boy suffered from muscular dystrophy; he was confined to a wheelchair. Gradually his spine became so curved that it was difficult for him to breath. A very risk operation had to be performed in order to straighten his spine, he would they be fitted for a back brace; If the operation was a success, he promised to bring his brace to Saint Anne . It was a success beyond all expectations. He came to the Shrine with twenty of his relatives. He is still in a wheelchair but can stand up and take a few steps. The brace is now placed with the other ex-votos on the north pillar near the entrance of the Basilica.” [ Revue Sainte-Anne, January 2007, p.23 ]
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A gentleman from Maryland addressed one of the youth members of the pastoral team at the Shrine. He explained why he continues to come and pray at the Shrine. Thirteen years ago, he and his wife were unable to have children. They came on a pilgrimage and now they are proud parents of two healthy boys.
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“On February 14, 1907, in the middle of the night, fire engulfed in the Church of St-Aimé, near Sorel, Quebec. The flames reached the roof of the neighbouring convent. Sister St-Zéphyrin, the principal, evacuated the 130 students. The older students and the nuns watched the church burn and prayed for the threatened convent. The parishioners and friends offered to remove the most precious objects. “Don’t do anything, I am against it… SAINT ANNE WILL NOT LET HER HOUSE BURN DOWN.” She ran to find a statue of Good Saint Anne. She placed it in the hands of one of the young nuns. “Place it between the church and the convent. Be careful, I entrust it to you.” Sister St-Zéphyrin wase inspired and shouted out: “Saint Anne, AT LEAST SAVE YOUR HOUSE." The onlookers repeated this vibrant invocation one hundred times. Answering the repeated pleas, Saint Anne answered their prayers and granted a miracle. From the four corners of the roof, the flames retreated to rest in the centreof the roof, forming a high column of light that swayed from left to right for 15 minutes, then it detached itself from the roof and flew up into the sky. "A MIRACLE! A MIRACLE! LONG LIVE SAINT ANNE! “, the crowd shouted deliriously. In the morning, nuns, students and friends entered the chapel to celebrate a thanksgiving Mass. To show her gratitude to the holy miracle-worker, Mother Superior, despite numerous obstacles, undertook the project of rebuilding the vast and pious chapel of which St-Aimé now boasts. (Recitation of the Sisters of the Presentation). On February 14, 2007, a high Mass with honoraries provided by a citizen of Sorel-Tracy, was celebrated in the Saint Anne de Beaupré Basilica. [ Revue Sainte-Anne April 2007, p.148)
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A lady from Quebec City had great pain in her spine since 1996. During the Novena at Saint Anne, she participated in the candlelight procession and venerated the relic. Before coming to Saint Anne, she could not bend because of her painful spine, let alone lift the smallest weight. She is now relieved from all her pain. [ Revue Sainte-Anne April 2007, p. 167]
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Two days after being born, the nurse noted that Jeremy had cardiac arrhythmia. After three days, the doctor referred his case to the Fleurimont Sherbrooke University Hospital. The cardiologist had him transferred to intensive care. “Never saw anything like this”, he said, “245 beats per minute.” It was only 16 days later that we could bring him home. After six months we could reduce his medication and his heart was beating slower. After a series of tests, the doctor found that his heart seemed to have gone back to normal. “It’s a miracle! “, he told us with amazement. Without wanting to confirm anything, we fully believed that our confidence and constant prayers were answered. Today, at two years old, Jeremy is in perfect health.” (Lady from Roxton Falls) [ Revue Sainte-Anne, October 2007, p. 407]
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“On August 12, 2006, my son Danny, 22 years old, was working on his car. The car began to roll backwards; he was behind it and wanted to stop it. It completely crushed his right hand; the bones were exposed, all that was holding his hand together was the artery and the mere skin on his arm. He was rushed by ambulance to the hospital in Miramichi, two hours from where we lived. Dr. Lanous, who treated him, had never seen anything like it in his 20 years of experience as a doctor. He operated Saturday evening not knowing if he would be able to save his hand. For 11 days, my son took antibiotics and other medicines to prevent infection. He had to be operate on again in September since there was a broken bone that the doctor did not want to take a chance on it during the first operation. It had been decided not to touch this bone to avoid losing the hand. Today, nearly six months later, Danny’s hand has been saved. With all our prayers and Danny’s determination, we have succeeded. His hand has been 80% restored and it is continuing to improve. On January 22, 2007, we had an another appointment with Dr. Lanous and he could not believe the condition of my son's hand. “Miracles exist, I am convinced, because this is a miracle.” Thank you, Good Saint Anne. (Val d'Amour, New Brunswick) [Revue Sainte-Anne, September 2007, p. 340]
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A lady from Pineville, New Brunswick, wrote at the beginning of June 2007. “Saint Anne is always with me. I have cancer. When I went to hospital the first time for a medical exam to see if my cancer was clearing up. I was very upset. My sister accompanied me and said, “Stay calm”, but I could not relax. I then saw Saint Anne appear on the wall and I calmed down; I told myself that all would be well. I told my sister about what I had seen and she thought I was crazy. The doctor came in smiling, “The cancer is almost all gone". Thank you, Saint Anne.”
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“On October 18, 2006, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. My family and I were very discouraged. After a few days, I decided not to give up. I began radiation therapy and chemotherapy in November 2006. I finished my treatments in March 2007. I began to pray to Good Saint Anne every day and we went to the Shrine several times with my husband, my two children and my sisters. I prayed with all my heart to the Infant Jesus, Holy Mary, Saint Joseph and Saint Anne. Last week, on June 15, 2007, I had a CAT scan at the Laval Hospital in Quebec City. The doctor assured me that I was cured; I realized in my heart that Saint Anne had performed a miracle for me and I thanked her immediately. I told the doctor that we are very happy about this good news. We will continue to pray to Good Saint Anne every day for what she has done for me. [No place identified]
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A gentleman from Chambly, Quebec writes, “My mother has just died; you can remove her name from the subscription list for the Revue Sainte-Anne… My parents were great believers and they had a great devotion to Saint Anne. When they were married in 1940. They went on their honeymoon to Saint Anne de Beaupré... A little later, the federal government began calling up married men to go and fight in the war in Europe. My father then promised to go on a pilgrimage to Saint Anne de Beaupré at least once a year if he was not called to the war. He never received the letter asking him to appear at the Canadian Armed Forces Centre. So he kept his promise and never spent a year of his life without going on a pilgrimage to Sainte Anne de Beaupré with my mother and later with me... My wife and I continue to make our yearly visit to the Shrine of Saint Anne de Beaupré.
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A lady from Elsipogtog, New Brunswick writes: “Three years ago my brother was suffering from bowel cancer. The cancer had spread to his kidneys, bladder and stomach. He went to hospital for surgery but the doctors found that the cancerous tissue was too far developed to be removed. The only remaining option was chemotherapy and radiation treatment; it was hoped that the cancerous tissue would decrease and it could then be removed by surgery. If these treatments were not successful, he was given six months to live. He decided to fight the cancer with the help of Good Saint Anne and the Blessed Mother. Several months later, the cancer had significantly reduced and a part of the cancerous tissue was able to be removed by surgery. In June 2004 he asked me to take him to Saint Anne de Beaupré. He was released from hospital after the operation and we went directly to Sainte Anne de Beaupré. He bought a medal of Saint Peregrine and prayed to be cured of the cancer. Two days later, we returned to Elsipogtog. In the months following our pilgrimage to Saint Anne, he continued his chimo treatments. He prayed every day to Good Saint Anne and to Saint Peregrine. He returned to see his doctor to find out if the cancer was progressing or not. To his surprise, he found out that the bowel, kidneys, bladder and stomach were all free from cancer. For two years, my brother has been cured from cancer. My brother lost his medal of Saint Peregrine for a few months and he was quite upset. He looked for months and months and finally found it in his camper. He was surprised when he saw the medal – it had changed colour. Enclosed and sealed in plastic, it had turned a reddish colour. It seemed that the my brother's cancer had been taken from his body and transferred to his medal. When I went on another pilgrimage to Saint Anne, he wanted this medallion to be placed at the Shrine as an ex-voto. My brother is now completely cured of cancer.
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A gentleman from Ancienne-Lorette writes: “When I took possession of my parents’ house in 1992, I had a problem – there was a tree close to the house for 40 years, 50 feet high, located on the east side, close to the new electrical entrance. I wanted to have it cut down but no one dared to do it. There were mobile homes close by and it would have been a disaster if it had fallen on them. I remained apprehensive. When taking possession of my house (my mother had just returned to the Maison du Père), I did a complete cleanout of his magazines. He had subscribed to the Revue Ste-Anne and that of Notre-Dame-du-Cap, and kept every issue. I decided, “That’s enough, I will sort it”. I took a big green bag and voila. But a surprise was waiting for me. A small plastic envelope 2 inches by 3 inches fell to the ground. It contained an image of Saint Anne with, “the size of a toothpick”, a relic of a “statue saved from the flames”, once sent to my mother. I placed it in my room at the head of the bed facing the side of the house where the tree was. During the night there was a high wind. I heard the sound of fir branches without realizing that it was my tree. It had broken and fell between the house and the trailers, without harming the electrical entrance. When I woke up I sat to myself, “It's a miracle!”. I wanted this tree to be felled without a problem and this is what happened. I am sending a photo: the good Saint Anne still present in the house, the toothpick relic taken from the statue, replaced at the top of the Basilica during reconstruction, the bottom of the tree, broken at the height of the roof, the side of the house which is 35 to 40 feet long, the window of my room. I have placed the relic in a green and red box. A friend of my father’s cut the branches and trunk a few days later. I was impressed to read the Mass of the day. The Gospel says, “ If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, say to this tree, Be thou cast into the sea, and it will happen. I simply asked for a solution to the problem of my tree, without any damage, and it was granted.
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[ Venerable Alfred Pampalon ] A lady from Timperley Altrincham, Cheshire, England, wrote at the end of 2006. “My son had everything – a good home, a choice education at a Catholic school and university. He was 16 years old when he began to take drugs. For four years he was a slave: he smoked Skunk, a potent form of cannabis, he consumed Ecstasy, Cocaine and Amphetamines and finally magic mushrooms (psilocybin), a powerful hallucinogen. He said he took anything and everything he could get. He was living the life of a “hobo” in parks and shelters and lodged in all the houses that would take him. He became careless about himself and very thin. He was psychotic and reluctant towards anyone who wanted to help him. He phoned me often and told me he didn’t have any reason to live; he was on the point of committing ѕυιcιdє. I prayed unceasingly to Jesus to help him. The people in my Catholic church of St John the Baptist of Timperley prayed unceasingly for him. My parish priest also prayed for him. Masses were said for him and prayer groups unceasingly commended him to the Lord. But he remained a slave to drugs. I then received a sheet from a mother whose son is a Brother with the Franciscans de la Réparation ( Atonement ).This community works with alcoholics and those who consume drugs. In this sheet there was a prayer to the Venerable Alfred Pampalon. I then made a Novena prayer that it would be found. About a week later, my son Matthieu phoned me one morning to tell me that he had not used drugs that day. “You did well, Matthieu”. Mathieu did not use any more drugs for about 17 months. He said that he no longer wants to use them. He is well and works, in full health. At first, I didn’t tell him that I had prayed to Father Alfred. Matthieu didn’t believe at the time in the power of prayer; he thought he had done it all by himself. I told him recently about the Novena I had made to Father Pampalon. He was very interested. I asked him to meet with his doctor so he could prove that he was free from his slavery to drugs. It took me a month to get this visit. Matthieu doesn’t live with us and works outdoors and things took some time to arrange. I am sending you the letter from Dr. Caplan confirming that Matthieu has not taken drugs since June 2005. “Matthieu was on an anti-depressant from November 2004 to June 2005. He has made immense progress and in fact has taken no more medication since June 2005. I has stopped using any drugs since June 2005. He is now well on his own, without any mental or physical deterioration.” (Dr. Bernard Caplan, Timperley Health Centre, Cheshire, October 23, 2006.)
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[Venerable Alfred Pampalon] In October 1997, a couple from Corpus Christi, Texas, came to Saint Anne de Beaupré. They visited the chapel and tomb of Father Pampalon and brought a copy of the Novena back with them. They began to pray for their son who was an alcoholic. Five months after they started reciting these prayers, their son went to an alcoholic treatment centre. He has remained sober since. We continue to recite the Novena prayers so that his cure is complete and we also pray for all others who are slaves to alcohol and drugs.
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[ Venerable Alfred Pampalon ] In September 2000 we visited the “tomb of Father Alfred" at Sainte Anne de Beaupré. At this time our son was on a medication for drug use, mostly heroin. The doctor told us that the chance of a cure for some addicted to drugs to such an extent was a mere 7%. When I visited the tomb of Father Alfred I wrote a note, “Save my son." In September 2001, he entered a rehabilitation program for the third time and, we hope, for the last time. He had a nearly fatal fall in June 2002. He is now an active member of the AA and has returned to church. We attribute that, in part or maybe altogether, to the intercession of Father Alfred. We thought that our son was lost.” (Couple from Stoughton, Maine)
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A lady from Saint-Etienne-de-Lauzon wrote in December 2006, “I would like to share what, in my view, is a miracle in modern times. On June 1, 2006, my husband found out that he had stomach cancer, one of the most violent cancers, with a chance of survival for five years after the operation, with the risk of losing his voice if it became necessary to remove the esophagus. THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS DEVASTATED. We have two girls and three grandchildren and we have been married for 35 years... Life was good. We have faith in God and we are practising Catholics. My husband had great confidence and a profound devotion to Saint Anne. We went to the Basilica to pray, but my husband cried and was unable to pray. A COUPLE IS STRONG. I decided to help him and asked him to let himself be carried by Saint Anne and the light of our God. At our church, at home, with brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, I asked that everyone wear the armour of the light and love of God because we were going to war against this enemy that was cancer. OPERATION. I waited close to the door; I was seated and not doing anything when a lady stopped and said to me, “I sense the presence of God in you; could I support you?" I had not noticed the time passing. I think the Good God sent me an angel in this woman. The presence of God was felt in her with the power to have an effect. The operation lasted 10 hours. He lost consciousness three times. They removed his esophagus and stomach. The surgeon told me that he would have a lot of suffering; he may not speak again. CONVALESCENCE. My husband had no postoperative pain and has still kept his beautiful voice. He eats what he wants and is doing very well. From time to time the doctor asks, “The pain? “ – “I don’t have any. “. One day the doctor said, “Perhaps there is a part that belongs to GOD!” CONCLUSION. My husband has just finished his radiation treatment and chemotherapy. We don’t know if the cancer will come back but this trial has united the whole family. My husband chose to teach the love and presence of God during his convalescence. He feels pains and joys in a new way since he has a new life. Without Saint Anne my husband would perhaps be gone today.
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A lady from Ste-Agathe-de-Lotbinière wrote, “My son and his wife just had a “miracle baby”. In 1989, they had a boy and in 1994 a girl, but there were then some difficult pregnancies and deaths at birth. When they learned they were expecting a new child they immediately went to Saint Anne de Beaupré; they asked the good Saint Anne to protect it. He arrived in good health. On July 26, 2007, the whole family – and Jimmy, the newborn - came to thank the Good Saint Anne.
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A gentleman from Ville-La-Baie was on a pilgrimage at the end of September with his wife. He comes to thank Good Saint Anne at least three times a year. 21 years ago, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He started to pray to Good Saint Anne and everything was cured as if by magic. 7 years ago prostate cancer was detected this time; he again turned to Good Saint Anne and there is no further trace of cancer.
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On November 11, 2007, a gentleman from Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia wrote, “About 15 years ago I often travelled from Nova Scotia to Ontario. I always used the Autoroute 20 but by luck (or destiny) one day I decided to take Highway 138. When I got to Saint Anne de Beaupré, I had to fill up with gas and stopped at a gas station not far from the shrine. Attracted by the splendour of this building I decided to go and see what it was like inside. I immediately felt a sacred presence. I stayed for some time, I had read a bit about Saint Anne, I recited several prayers, a lit a candle and continued on my way. Every since that day, each time I go by Quebec City I would take Highway 138, so I could make a visit to Saint Anne de Beaupré. Years later, in May 2004, I was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors told me that I had had this cancer for 2 or 3 years, but I had not been sick or had any symptom of its presence. They told me the cancer had become very malignant and that I had less than six months to live. I was appalled. I was afraid of dying and afraid of the impact this news would have on my wife and our son. I did not know where to turn and decided to go to Saint Anne de Beaupré. I made the journey by car and spend close to a day alone in prayer. I opened my heart to Saint Anne and asked her to spare my life. I also prayed for the strength to face the events and for my fears to be calmed if I should die. When initially diagnosed that my condition was so serious I was not even offered a treatment and after some months my condition deteriorated dramatically. In October 2004 the doctors decided to do an operation but advised me that it would certainly not be a cure. It is now three years since the first diagnosis. The doctors recently told me that my cancer is still there but it is borrowed time. I feel well and am no longer afraid for my life. I feel obliged to present my testimony of thanks to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, by reference to this mysterious joy that I discovered in your church. What is strange is that I am not even Catholic. I was born in England and belong to the Anglican Church. But I think that neither Saint Anne nor the Good God nor Jesus Christ loves me any the less for that. I would appreciate very much if you would keep me, my wife Pauline and our son Matthieu in your prayers. May God bless you, the priests and the people in your parish for this Shrine of Hope, this place where prayers are heard! It’s a place where miracles can happen and actually occur.
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