Most Catholics have heard of apparitions of the Virgin Mary at places like Lourdes or Fatima. But did you know the Virgin Mary’s own mother, St. Anne, also has an apparition story?
In fact, there is only one place in the world where St. Anne is said to have appeared -- a small village in Brittany, France.
This unique 17th-century event transformed the village of Keranna (now Sainte-Anne-d’Auray) into one of France’s great pilgrimage sites, according to NCR, drawing the faithful who are curious about the grandmother of Jesus and the miracles attributed to her intercession.
St. Anne’s life and legacy in the Church
According to Christian tradition (drawn from early apocryphal writings), St. Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary and thus the grandmother of Jesus. The Bible does not name Mary’s parents, but ancient sources call them Anne and Joachim. In Catholic devotion, Saints Anne and Joachim are honored together each year on July 26, and St. Anne is considered a patron saint of mothers, grandmothers, and teachers, among others.
She is especially beloved in certain regions -- for example, Brittany in northwestern France claims St. Anne as its patron saint. The Bretons have a deep affection for “Good St. Anne,” affectionately calling her Mamm gozh ar Vretoned, meaning “their grandmother” in the local Breton language.
This enduring devotion is reflected in centuries of popular piety: St. Anne is frequently depicted holding young Mary in her lap, and many Catholics turn to her for help with family needs and prayers for children.
The only apparition of St. Anne at Auray, Brittany
The neo-Gothic Basilica of Sainte-Anne d’Auray in Brittany, France, stands on the site where St. Anne is believed to have appeared nearly 400 years ago, in 1624. Today it remains the spiritual heart of Brittany, commemorating St. Anne’s unique apparition and drawing crowds of pilgrims each summer.
The story of St. Anne’s apparition at Auray dates back to the early 17th century. By local tradition, an ancient chapel dedicated to St. Anne had existed in Keranna many centuries before, but it had fallen into ruin and faded from memory. In 1623-1624, St. Anne suddenly appeared to a humble Breton farmer named Yves (Yvon) Nicolazic on multiple occasions.
Nicolazic saw a “beautiful Lady” who revealed, “I am Anne, mother of Mary”, and asked him to rebuild the chapel that once stood on that spot. To convince the skeptical local clergy, St. Anne guided Nicolazic to discover a long-buried wooden statue of herself -- a remnant of the old chapel, hidden for almost a millennium.
In March 1625, he unearthed this ancient statue of St. Anne as proof of his visions. Soon after, miracles began to be reported at the site and pilgrims started flocking to venerate the rediscovered statue.
Church authorities, initially cautious, investigated the events. They found Nicolazic sincere and the apparition evidence credible. With episcopal approval, a new chapel was built by 1628 on the exact place indicated by St. Anne. This chapel became the center of a rapidly growing pilgrimage. Over the next decades and centuries, the Sanctuary of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray gained fame throughout Brittany and beyond.
Royal approval
Even the French royal family took interest -- Queen Anne of Austria (wife of Louis XIII) sent precious gifts, including a relic of St. Anne, to honor the shrine. Devotion to St. Anne at Auray persisted through turbulent times, even surviving the French Revolution (during which the first chapel was damaged and the original statue was tragically destroyed).
In the 19th century, Pope Pius IX encouraged the flourishing pilgrimage. In 1864 he ordered the construction of the much larger basilica that still stands today, elevating it to the rank of a minor basilica. This impressive church -- built on the very spot where Nicolazic found the statue -- now houses relics of St. Anne and serves as the focal point for pilgrims seeking her intercession.
In fact, Sainte-Anne-d’Auray has become the third most popular pilgrimage site in France (after Lourdes and Lisieux) according to NCR, a testament to the lasting impact of St. Anne’s visit to this Breton hamlet.
Every year around St. Anne’s feast (July 26), thousands of people travel to Auray for the Grand Pardon of Sainte Anne, a traditional Breton pilgrimage festival. Pilgrims attend Masses (some celebrated in the Breton language), participate in torchlight processions and folk celebrations, and honor St. Anne in gratitude for “grandmother’s” care from heaven.
Some notable pilgrims
The shrine’s popularity isn’t limited to locals, either. Over the years it has drawn notable pilgrims such as Napoléon III, General Charles de Gaulle, and even Pope John Paul II, who visited in 1996 and preached to a crowd of 150,000 at the basilica. All came, like countless ordinary believers, to seek the prayers of the woman who raised the Blessed Virgin Mary.
For curious Catholics, Sainte-Anne-d’Auray offers a fascinating glimpse into the faith of Breton Catholics and their special relationship with Jesus’ grandmother. It is a place where history, legend, and devotion intertwine. In a world filled with Marian apparitions, this singular apparition of St. Anne stands out as a gentle reminder that every generation of Jesus’s family -- from his Blessed Mother to his saintly Grandma -- has a role in God’s plan.
And as the Bretons will happily tell you, “Mamm gozh ar Vretoned” is always ready to welcome her spiritual grandchildren who come to Auray in search of grace and comfort.
