Thousands of pilgrims from across the globe flocked to the Basilica of St. Anne de Beaupre, Que., over nine days in late July to prayerfully participate in an annual novena dedicated to the grandmother of Christ.

The nearly 400-year-old basilica site, located along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River 35 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, honoured St. Anne, the mother of Mary and the wife of St. Joachim.

The novena culminated with the feast of St. Anne July 26. Each day leading up to the the feast day there were devotional prayers and Masses celebrated in the saint’s honour. 

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Around 12,000 people attended the Shrine on St. Anne’s feast. Five Masses were said to accommodate the large crowds.

Fr. Jacques Fortin, a Redemptorist priest on the pastoral team that ministers to the shrine, noted that devotion to St. Anne is commonplace for the people of Quebec.

“Everyone guards in their family a statue of St. Anne. No matter where you go in Quebec, each family has a statue of St. Anne. Everyone goes to her for favours,” he said.

The devotion to St. Anne is rooted in Quebec tradition. Legend holds that a Breton ship was caught in the treacherous waters of the St. Lawrence. Those on board prayed to St. Anne for protection, vowing that if they were spared, they would build a chapel in her honour.

Although devotion to St. Anne began with a small chapel, it grew steadily as more and more residents came to venerate her. The chapel soon became a basilica, attracting pilgrims from all around the world. St. Anne was officially established as the patroness of Quebec in 1876. 

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“It is a familial devotion. This devotion is transmitted from generation to generation, from parents to children, grandparents to grandchildren. It is a popular devotion. She is with the people and she belongs with them. There are no barriers,” continued Fortin. 

This year, the novena operated under the theme of “Sent to Every Encounter,” which are words taken from the first bishop of Québec François de Laval.

Pius X Secular Institute director General Fr. Marcel Caron said the novena bore special significance this year as it overlapped with a historic milestone of Catholic Quebec history.

“The Diocese of Quebec is celebrating its 350th anniversary, so we wanted to link the novena with a theme. The first bishop of Quebec had a great devotion to St. Anne. He gave a statue to the shrine so that the pilgrims could have a way of getting in real contact with St. Anne. Our Christian history has deep roots that continue to bear fruit also with the new generation,” he said. 

Caron noted that the gold-covered wooden statue of St. Anne given by Bishop Laval in 1662 is still venerated to this day in the shrine.

Marie Ann Doyle, a novena participant, was inspired by its core messages.

“Every person is placed on our route because of God. We are sent to every encounter, to help that person, to be an example of mercy, compassion and forgiveness to everyone that we meet,” she said.

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Doyle, who teaches English as a second language to primary school students in the town of St. Anne, said she will practically apply the lessons of the novena to her daily life.

“We hear the homilies, they are nice to listen to, but we are called to go out. We are called as missionary disciples to always follow Christ, not just when we want to. God never takes a break.”