Many visitors to the shrine attend the rosary devotions held in the grounds of the basilica each day during the novena before the feast for the handicapped pilgrims of the Ahearn Pilgrimage. Because so much attention is focused on them, it is natural that the pilgrims want to make a good impression. One bedridden women, whom I observed over the period of the novena and feast, followed each service with rapt attention and at the consecration would raise her hands in the charismatic gesture of prayer, which obviously involved great effort for her. She did the same thing during the singing of the Magnificat which closes the services after the nightly candlelight processions. However, on the day of the feast, she made a truly heroic effort and raised herself almost to a sitting position during the consecration at the Mass and during the blessing of the sick, thus creating such a dramatic effect that many spectators who were not familiar with her thought they were witnessing a miracle, since these are usually expected to take place at these times.
Some pilgrims also represent ethnic or other organizations.
Each group which regularly visits Beaupre has its own banner which is kept in the basilica and carried in processions by the members on the occasions of its visits to the shrine. I have noticed that people tend to be especially ceremonious in their manner when they are walking in procession behind their banner. In these days of ethnic consciousness many shrines have scheduled days when they are visited by pilgrims from one ethnic group and special devotions may take place. These occur throughout the year at Beaupre, but the most spectacular examples are the Indians and the Gypsies, who arrive for the days of the feast. The Indians, who often wear tribal dress, have a special Mass said for them on the day of the feast.