The story of Saint Anne de Beaupre, Canada:
About 20 miles east of Quebec City is the oldest pilgrimage site in Canada. This church is dedicated to Saint Anne, mother of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Devotion to Mary started in Jerusalem after the council of Ephesus in 431 AD (sorry, protestants…bet you didn’t know that). In 1657 the Jesuit fathers dedicated one of the chapels in Quebec to St. Anne and there has always been a chapel of Saint Anne in the Basilica and Cathedral of this beautiful city.
About The Basilica of Saint Anne de Beaupre in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec:
The building’s magnificent mosaics, illuminated by 240 stained-glass windows, describe the important moments in the life of Saint Anne. The shrine is renowned for its commemorative chapel, the Scala Sancta chapel, and an outdoor way of the cross. Inside the Basilica you will see a wall filled with crutches, testament to the many healings attributed to the intercession of Saint Anne.
The Feast of Saint Anne is July 26 and, as you can imagine, is a special day for pilgrims from all over the world who come here to celebrate.
In the basement of the basilica is a small Blessed Sacrament chapel and also a large replica of Michelangelo’s Pieta, the original of which is found in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. There is also a beautiful statue of Our Lady on the altar by Franz Moroder.
Traveling to the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre:
There are daily Masses, Rosary, Confession and Eucharistic Adoration. There are also many services offered for pilgrims visiting the shrine, so be sure to check out their website for all the details and schedules.
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is about 20 miles (34 Km) from the center of Quebec City and the train and bus stations. It is about 30 miles (49 Km) from the Quebec airport.
Address: 10018 Avenue Royale, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, QC G0A 3C0
GPS coordinates: 47° 1′ 28.8300” N, 70° 55′ 39.3924” W
Tel: (+1) 418-827-3781
email: secretariat@sanctuairesainteanne.org
Visit the official website of the Shrine of Saint Anne de Beaupre