Canada-Quebec & Montreal-09/22-9/29/2019
Basilica of Saint Anne
de Beaupré- 9/24/2019The Basilica of Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré is located about 20 minutes from Québec City.
Saint Anne is believed, by the pious, to obtain miracles through her intercession and people from all around the world come to visit the basilica.
The Sanctuary welcomes almost a million visitors annually. For over 350 years, people of all ages have been gathering at this Shrine dedicated to Saint Anne, the grandmother of Jesus.
The basilica in Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré was initially a shrine to honor Saint Anne. On March 8, 1658, settler Etienne de Lessard donated two frontal acres from the west end of his property to the Catholic Church, so that a chapel could be built. This chapel eventually became the site of the modern-day basilica. The chapel was built to provide a place of worship for the new settlers in the area and to house a miraculous statue of St. Anne. The first reported miracle at the site happened during the shrine's construction. The Basilica is of the five national shrines of Canada and been credited by the Catholic Church with many miracles of curing the sick and disabled.
The Basilica was built in 12th century in the Romanesque Gothic style and it can accommodate 9,000 worshippers.
The present Basilica was completed in 1963
Sainte Anne Fountain located in front of the Basilica.
Installed in 2008 for the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the Shrine, this fountain reaches a height of 33 foot. Water flows over the scalloped border of a bronze basin of some 13 foot in diameter. At the summit is a statue representing Saint Anne and her daughter Mary.
This statue is the work of Canadian Sculptor Emile Brunet. It represents Saint Anne teaching the Virgin Mary, with Mary holding a scroll with the word "Caritas", Latin for Charity.
Brunet once shared that the expression on Saint Anne's face is of Meekness and kindness and that Saint Anne would be about 45 years of age and the Virgin about three.
Brunet took into consideration that the statue would stand on Canadian soil and there fore he incorporated a crown of maple leaves to be made as a tribute to Saint Anne and Holy Virgin.
At the peak, between the two bell towers, you can find the statue of Saint Anne (gold) which was saved from the destructive fire of the first Basilica in 1922.
The Basilica is approximately 328 high from the floor to the top of the bell towers.
It is about 197 food wide at the transept crossing and 164 foot at the facade.
The building extends about 328 foot in length.
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The entrance of the Basilica
Several statues decorate the façade including Mary, Joseph, Joachim, John the Baptist, Bishop François de Laval and Mary of the Incarnation, all masterpieces of the Quebec sculptor, Émile Brunet.
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The main doors of the Basilica are made with copper and they present many scenes of the life of Jesus.
This exceptional work of art created by the artist Albert Gilles was originally hanging on the doors of the St. Joseph Church in Quebec City in the 1950’s. The three double doors alone represent 12 months of laborious work. After the closing of this church in 2003, Albert Gille’s masterpiece was given a second chance at life when it was transferred to the Saint Anne de Beaupré Basilica the same year, to the great benefit of pilgrims and visitors.
Sculpture of Sainte Anne just above the door.
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Plaques in Granite
Mosaics floor
The interior of the basilica, the main nave.
Joseph-Émile Brunet designed twenty-four capitals (1948) for the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, which depict 52 religious subjects reflecting the life of Jesus. He sculpted 14 "Stations of the Cross" lining the walls of the Cathedral, with stone statues of Saint Anne and Saints at the entrance of the Cathedral.
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View of the Altar
The altar close up.
Here you have a better view of the capitals.
Over 240 stained glass windows and mosaics telling the life story of Saint Anne, covering the ceiling and sides of the church.
Decorative ceiling |
Wooden benches |
Stained glass windows up above
Votive Candles
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Even if you are in town, the Basilica has a service that you contact and they will light a votive candle for you (of course at a cost).
Saint Anne sculpture- the real focus of the building is not its architecture, but the Statue of Saint-Anne-Beaupré.
Carved from a single piece of oak and colorfully painted, the Statue of Saint Anne is located in the Main Nave of the Basilica. Wearing a gold crown with diamonds, rubies and pearls, Saint Anne is shown carrying her child, the Virgin Mary. Glorified in heaven, many guests come to the statue of Saint Anne in prayer while others quietly reflect on the statue’s beauty.
Stained glass windows.
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