15 March 2008

40 Days, 40 Churches

Day 39: Immaculate Conception Chapel, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, QC, Canada

This is the lower level of the basilica in this small town outside of Quebec City, which the wife and I visited on our first vacation together as a couple. It's named for Saint Anne, Mary's mother and patron saint of sailors, who built the first church here back in the 17th century.

We didn't look at much else at the site other than the basilica and chapel, given that it was early March and still pretty snowy. There is a stations of the cross there using life-sized figures, which can be a bit much. It is considered a pilgrimage site, and a variety of health-related miracles are attributed to visits here. I can't say that I experienced any, though hopefully I'll get an eon or two fewer in purgatory for stopping by.

There is also a canyon nearby with a waterfall, which we also stopped at. At some point we have to go back there when it's above freezing.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I went to this chapel as a sophomore in high school on a French Club trip. We also stopped at the waterfall, if you are talking about the Montmorency Falls. I would suggest waiting until after April school vacation week to go should you decide to return, as it was still pretty cold. Not below freezing, but not warm by any means.

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