About the author Siham Jamaa defines herself as a trendspotter. Following an MBA in International Tourism that propelled her into the world of travel, she worked with the Réseau de Veille en Tourisme at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), studying the many groundbreaking innovations that are constantly rejuvenating this industry. Although her main focus these days is the entertainment industry, she has long been interested in religious and spiritual matters, writing and presenting on the subject. She is particularly interested in the concept of the religious and spiritual journey, an experience charged with meaning that can help those seeking self-improvement to reach their full potential. She is proud to help visitors understand the emblematic sites, symbols and figures of Québec through this type of journey.
Contents The Shrine s Early Days 6 The Basilica 13 The Historic Chapel (Old Shrine) 16 The Gardens 18 Index 22
Duration : 2hrs 30min Walking tour Our Lady of the Cape Shrine: A Place for Prayer and Meditation After the Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe in Mexico City, Our Lady of the Cape Shrine (Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap) is the second largest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in North America. On this tour, you ll discover this national shrine on the bank of the St. Lawrence River. This pilgrimage site dedicated to the mother of Christ features numerous monuments and points of historical interest.
5 The rosary bridge. Michel Julien Our Lady of the Cape Shrine is one of Canada s five national shrines, with Sainte- Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine, the Ermitage Saint-Antoine de Lac-Bouchette, and Saint Joseph s Oratory of Mount Royal, all in Québec, and the Martyrs Shrine in Ontario. The first stone chapel built on this site, called the Old Shrine, is considered one of the oldest stone churches in Canada. Despite its great age, most of its original components have been beautifully preserved. In addition to the original chapel, the Shrine has many hidden treasures to offer. Beyond the huge basilica and its exceptional stained glass windows, you can explore its magnificent gardens overlooking the river, its peaceful ways of the Cross and the rosary, and its commemorative bridge. The Shrine s history and religious vocation is also a rich intangible heritage. The site is intimately tied to the Miracle of the Ice Bridge and Miracle of the Eyes, two major events that marked its destiny. Located halfway between Montréal and Québec City, the Sanctuary has kept the practice of pilgrimage alive and well. It is a remarkable meeting place for its visitors, whether they come to honour the Virgin or simply to enjoy the refreshing calm of the surroundings. Perched next to the river and surrounded by landscaped grounds, this Marian pilgrimage site s remarkable, meditative atmosphere is ideal for introspection, relaxation, and spiritual experiences. Before beginning the tour, get a bottle or canteen to fill with spring water from the Shrine s gardens.
6 The Shrine s Early Days In 1659, Sieur Pierre Boucher had a modest wooden chapel built here; he ceded it a few years later to the parish of Sainte-Madeleine-du-Cap. Father Paul Vachon, the first parish priest, established a Brotherhood of the Holy Rosary in 1694. The wooden chapel was soon too small, and Monseigneur de Saint-Vallier, bishop of Québec, ordered a new stone church built in 1714. The parish was not wealthy at the time, so they decided to demolish the first chapel and reuse its materials, buying elsewhere the rest of what they needed. The new stone church was completed in 1720. Sadly, Father Vachon died in 1729, and the parish went without a pastor for more than a hundred years, until 1844. Father Luc Désilets, a firm and zealous man passionately devoted to the Virgin Mary, became parish priest in 1864. He soon confronted declining church attendance and a village of 1,000 people constantly racked by squabbles and discord. Father Désilets decided to address the problems by encouraging devotion to the rosary; his efforts bore fruit and parishioners started to trickle back into the pews. The project of building a truly new church really got under way in the winter of 1878-79. However, a major difficulty soon arose: the material for the church had to be brought from the south shore of the river. This made it absolutely necessary for the river to freeze
Our Lady of the Cape Shrine: A Place for Prayer and Meditation 7 before the stones could be brought by sleigh. The river freezes in certain years and not others, based on how cold the winter turns out to be. Mild weather preventing ice from forming was a constant threat. A worried Father Désilets asked his parishioners to pray to the Virgin Mary for help with transporting the stones: every Sunday after Mass, the congregation was asked to say a rosary for an ice bridge to form. The coldest months of the winter passed without a bridge. March arrived, and a freeze was growing less and less likely. The parishioners started to lose hope. Rather than give in to discouragement, though, Father Désilets promised the Virgin that he would conserve the first church, slated for demolition, and dedicate it to her if an ice bridge formed before the spring. Almost at once, his prayer was answered: an icy gale swept through the area, and against all odds, an ice jam formed across the river. The priest and his parishioners worked hard to stabilize the 2km crossing. The favourable weather lasted nine days, allowing a convoy of horse-drawn sleighs to cross the river. The event was spontaneously named the miracle of the ice bridge. People flocked to see this natural phenomenon for themselves, marvelling to see that the whole river was ice-free except right at the cape! The extraordinary event was called the rosary bridge, in commemoration of the many rosaries that had been prayed. This was the first of the Shrine s miracles; parishioners attributed this divine intervention to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who seemed to have chosen to make her home right on their cape. Since that time, numerous pilgrims have come to pray in the old chapel, which was preserved in fulfilment of Father Désilets vow to the Virgin. The first public pilgrimage was organized in May 1883. The new church of Sainte- Marie-Madeleine gradually arose, and opened its doors to worshippers in 1880. It was consecrated the same year by Monseigneur Louis-François Laflèche, bishop of Trois- Rivières. olonists in C New France began using the land on which the Shrine stands today as soon as the area was settled. Jesuit missionaries arrived in 1634, including Father Jacques Buteux, founder of Capde-la-Madeleine, who suffered martyrdom under Iroquois bullets and hatchets. The Sepulchre of Christ, in the gardens. Michel Julien
21 Practical Information Our Lady of the Cape Shrine 626 Rue Notre-Dame Est, Trois-Rivières, 819-374-2441, www.sanctuaire-ndc.ca Opening hours: Mid-Oct to early May: Old Shrine 9am to 8pm, Basilica 9am to 5pm. Early May to mid-oct: Old Shrine 8:30am to 8pm, Basilica 8:30am to 7:30pm.
Index Gardens 18 Historic Chapel (Old Shrine) 16
Our Lady of the Cape Shrine ISBN 978-2-76583-240-9 (PDF version), is a chapter taken from Ulysses guide Guide to Spiritual and Religious Journeys in Québec, ISBN 978-2-89464-947-3 (printed version), published and legally deposited in April 2016. Crédits Research and Writing: Siham Jamaa Translation: Elke Love, Matthew McLauchlin, Christine Poulin, Tanya Solari, John Sweet Editors: Pierre Ledoux and Claude Morneau Copy Editing: Elke Love, Matthew McLauchlin Editing Assistant: Ambroise Gabriel Graphic Design and Layout: Pascal Biet This work was produced under the direction of Olivier Gougeon and Claude Morneau. Acknowledgments This book was created with the support of many people who believed in my passion and who supported me throughout the project. I would especially like to thank Pierre, Rizlaine and Richard. I also wish to thank the wonderful religious communities who generously opened their doors to me and shared their spiritual, historical and artistic treasures. Many thanks also to the members of the tourism and cultural industry for their dedication towards their institutions and regions. Their enthusiasm is an inspiration. Finally, I would like to thank my publisher, Ulysses Travel Guides, for the confidence, the vision and the creativity of its leaders. Siham Jamaa This project was made possible in part by the support of Québec s National Shrines (Canada), Canada Economic Development, and Tourisme Québec, as well as the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and the Ville de Montréal under the Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal agreement. Ulysses Travel Guides acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada. Ulysses Travel Guides would also like to thank the Government of Québec Tax credit for book publishing Administered by SODEC. In order to facilitate your viewing, this e-book does not contain a blocking device. It is however identified by a digital watermark that ensures its traceability in case of piracy. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including photocopying, without the written permission of the publisher. Guides de voyage Ulysse inc. Tous droits réservés ISBN 978-2-76583-240-9 (PDF version)