Evening star., 1925-07-26
CATHOLIC PILGRIMS
FLOCK TO SHRINE
Gather in Canadian City to
Honor Feast Day of
Saint Anne.
BY Consolidated Press.

by SousOuQdteu fress.
STE. ANNE DE BEAUPRE, Que
bee, July 25-Catholic pilgrims from
all parts of the United States and Can
ada poured in to this town of miracles
today, to be present for the greatest
day of the year at the famous shrine
of Ste. Anne, the feast of Ste. Anne,
on July 26, when, according to veri-
fed records. preserved by the priests
in charge, miraculous cures of the
sick reach their height.
Pilgrims who have not visited the
shrine in the last three years found a
great change, for in March, 1922, the
magnificent basilica which housed the
shrine was destroyed by flames. The
sacred relic, part of the arm of Ste.
Anne, was saved, however, and re-
poses in a Temporary structure pend
ing erection of a great new baSilica,
which is now planned.
And it is for the sake of this relic
that the manned. the halt and the
blind have come to Ste. Anne de
Beaupre for years.
Each year brings additional testi
monials from persons who have been
helped at the shrine, these testimo-
malls always being unsolicited.
Says Eyes Were Cured.
And each year the great pyramids
of crutches, bandages and other sur
gical appliances abandoned by pill
grims, grow higher.
One of the pilgrims returning this
year stated she had been practically
blind for II years. She made several
pilgrimageS to the shrine and each
year her eyes showed some improve
ment. Last year, just about the time
of the close of her novena, she read
a letter. Since then there has been a
decided improvement and today this
woman reads for hours at a time. An
other woman returning this year car
ried crutches for several years, and
while walking to the altar last Ste.
P.nne's day was able to drop the
crutches and walk dnassisted.
The priests at the shrine say they
never give out anything regarding
cures until they can be corroborated
by the patients family physician.
Every pilgrim takes from the shrine
a bottle Of wsMer from the fountain OF
Ste. Anne, believing that God, for the
honor of Ste. Anne, has attached to
it a marvellous efficacy.
Modern Dress Barred.
The Scala Santa is visited daily by
pious pilgrims. This is a large fight
of stairs inside the basilica and there
are fndulgences for those who ascend
the stairs kneeling. Inserted in each
step is a relic from the Holy Land.
The steps were built along the lines
of similar ones in Rome. All the fres-
Goes are scenes from the Holy Land
and are from the brush of a Redemp-
torist brother, who spent nearly two
years painting them. The descent is
made by another flight of stairs, on
which it is permissible to walk.
There is little else to do at the
shrine save pray. Three regular
masses are said daily for pilgrims, and
priests who visit the shrine are given
the privilege of celebrating the sacri-
flee on one of the many side affairs. At
II o'clock in the morning and again at
o'clock in the afternoon there is
venerat ton of the relic, and at pm.
benediction of the blessed sacrament
is held with addresses in English and
French.
Low neck dresses, exceptionally
short skirts and in fact all kinds of ap-
parel that is the least bit "off color"
are barred from the shrine. If pill
grims come there they must dress in
the good old-fashioned way"