Did you know that this corner of Brittany, France, once known as Ker Anna, is said to be the only place in the world where Saint Anne appeared? And that this jubilee year, Sainte Anne d’Auray celebrated the jubilee of the Apparitions with the installation of a magnificent holy door carved with the effigies of Anne and Joachim?
This wonderful story began when Yvon Nicolazic discovered, on the night of 6 to 7 March 1625, in his field in Bocenno, a statue of Saint Anne, the remains of a chapel dedicated to her, which had been in ruins for 924 years and six months. Saint Anne had asked him to rebuild a chapel on the same spot to honour her… Since the erection of a basilica, and even before, pilgrims have been flocking to pray to the ‘good mother Saint Anne’!
From 25 to 27 July this year, a ‘Grand Pardon’ was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Apparitions of Saint Anne to this poor but devout labourer. The ceremonies of this Grand Pardon were presided over by Cardinal Robert SARAH, delegated by Pope Leo XIV.
This Pardon was preceded by a Troménie* of St Anne – a procession of her statue placed on a carriage drawn by a Breton draught horse – through the parishes of the Morbihan department, covering a distance of more than 1,800 km between 7 March and 25 July 2025! This Troménie allowed for the display of generosity, the expression of moving testimonies of faith and the deepening of community ties!
At the end of this procession, on the afternoon of 25 July, before entering her Basilica, Saint Anne stopped in the courtyard of our house, Ker-Anna-Lan Eol, where she was greeted with enthusiastic cheers, accompanied by Cardinal Sarah, who shook hands with all the residents who were able to be present!
A crowd of 30,000 people took turns over these three days to pray to Saint Anne in a sumptuous setting decorated in the colours of Breton traditions, distinguished by music and clothing. The pilgrims were able to drink from the original Source that makes this place a sacred space… and left with hearts filled with joy and hope!
Every year, this place is visited by many tourists who wander around with great respect! Praise God for all the wonders He accomplishes in this place!
Armandine Bagot, FSE. Published on … September 2025
*A Troménie is a traditional Breton religious procession consisting of a pilgrimage along a sacred route. The Troménie is often associated with particular places of worship or holy sites, and is usually organised at regular intervals.
