Another form of this practice involves attending Mass at the Franciscan convent on the hill above the main church or, even more esoteric and difficult to reach, the little church of the cloistered Redemptoristine sisters. Once the pilgrim learns the Mass schedule of the various churches, it is easy to figure out which ones will be least attended. This is, of course, a very common Catholic devotion, and the pilgrim may already know the appropriate prayers. The approach to the church on one's knees is known at many shrines, but the Scala Sancta at Beaupre may be less familiar to pilgrims. This is a flight of 28 steps, copied from a set in the chapel of the old Lateran palace, which are thought to be those from Pilate's praetorium, brought to Rome by St. Helena, that indefatigable collector of large-scale relics.
Pilgrims ascend the staircase, often on their knees, pausing on each stair to say a prayer.
Just in case the pilgrim is not familiar with this devotional practice, little books on sale at the entrance explain the meaning of the stairs and suggest appropriate prayers. Other private devotional practices can be learned simply from observation. Pilgrims often leave little offerings such as flowers or rosaries on statues. This is usually accelerated on feast days, when, for example, the marble angels which stand at the foot of the statue of St. Anne in the transept of the church are completely buried in flowers, scarves, jewelry and rosaries. Notes are left, giving thanks for favors or requesting them, as well as holy cards and pictures of loved ones for whom petitions are made.