ROAD TRIP. Stop Two! From Montmorency Falls, we drove north along the St. Lawrence River to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and its famous shrine.
The strawberries and sandwiches we enjoyed in the shade of some old trees really hit the spot. And we had plenty of entertainment from two seagulls arguing over who would get our crumbs! Having a rest gave us a chance to read up on the history of the place — and we learned that a shrine has been in this spot since 1658!
The interior of the basilica is breathtaking. The sunny day gave us a wonderful show of colors from the stained glass windows above the main altar. This church was built in the 1920s, after a fire burned down the basilica from the 19th century, which had replaced the original wooden chapel from the 17th century.
Many people make pilgrimages to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in hopes of miracles. On the walls, hundreds of crutches and canes and other medical supports represent the many healings attributed to visits and prayers here, especially under this statue.
The side chapel in the pictures above is filled with flowers and notes of thanksgiving for healings. This chapel honors the many Canadian saints.
The vibrant use of color throughout the basilica was striking. It highlighted the hope found in this lovely place. Tomorrow, we’ll share some of the interesting artwork we discovered inside.
Wandering Star 