Exactly 400 years ago, Saint Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, appeared to a humble Breton farmer, Yvon Nicolazic, speaking to him in the local dialect, announcing that God wished a basilica to be built there in her honor.
The 400th jubilee of St. Anne's apparitions were remembered July 26, 2025 by the celebration of a pontifical Mass with more than 30,000 faithful in attendance, following an annual pilgrimage, known as the Grand Pardon. The Mass was presided over by Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and special envoy of Pope Leo XIV.
It is from their Breton ancestors that Québécois inherited their strong devotion to Saint Anne, having also built a beautiful sanctuary in Beaupré, near Quebec City. (For the full story, see the article by Louis Even titled To the Glory of Saint Anne, published in the May–June–July 2013 issue of MICHAEL.)
Here is our translation of the homily delivered by Cardinal Sarah, in nearly its entirety, as transcribed by (https://aleteia.org/2025/07/30/cardinal-sarah-silent-adoration-is-stronger-than-evil/)
Dear brothers and sisters of Brittany and of France,
I respectfully greet the civil authorities present here today for the 400th anniversary of the apparitions of Saint Anne at this holy site. Pope Leo XIV has appointed me as his special envoy to this sanctuary of Sainte-Anne-d'Auray. Through this gesture, the Holy Father wishes to emphasize the importance he places on your pilgrimage. I therefore bring you, dear pilgrims of Saint Anne, the greetings and blessing of our beloved Pope Leo XIV.
The Pope is praying for you today. Through his envoy, he shows you his paternal affection. On his behalf, I warmly greet Bishop Raymond Centène of Vannes, who has a deep love for Saint Anne. I also greet the other bishops, abbots, superiors of communities, priests from Brittany and beyond, and you, dear pilgrims of Saint Anne, who have come to this sanctuary in response to Saint Anne's call — and above all, to worship God.
Here, 400 years ago, Saint Anne appeared to Yvon Nicolazic and said: "Yvon Nicolazic, Me zo Anna, mamm Mari" ("I am Anne, mother of Mary" in Breton). "Yvon, do not be afraid, I am Anne, mother of Mary. Tell your priest that on the land called the Bocenno" — that is, where we now stand — "there once stood a chapel built in my name, the first in the whole country. It has lain in ruins for 924 years and six months. I desire that it be rebuilt as soon as possible and that you care for it, because God wants me to be honored there. God wants you to come here in procession."
Dear brothers and sisters, Saint Anne said to Yvon Nicolazic: "God wants this place." God chose this land to make it holy. He desired that a portion of your territory, a portion of your nation — France — should be a sacred space, a place set apart. God wanted your ancestors not to cultivate or farm this particular land, but to reserve it for His glory.
There is a great mystery here that we must ponder. There were many other churches and sites available, but God chose this one. Why? To remind us that God comes first, that His glory precedes us and does not belong to us. God created us out of pure love; all creation is the work of His hands, the free gift of His love. [...]
We did not earn His love — He loved us first. We owe Him everything, for it is from Him that we receive life, movement, and being. As His creatures and His children, to honor and glorify God is a matter of justice. Giving glory to God is not optional; it is our duty, a necessity. This is a truth that must be rediscovered — especially in societies that consider God dead, irrelevant, or uninteresting.
In the West, religion is too often presented as a tool for human well-being. It is reduced to humanitarian efforts, helping migrants and the homeless, promoting universal brotherhood and world peace. Spirituality becomes a kind of personal development, something to soothe the modern man busy with politics and economics. While these are important matters, this understanding of religion is false.
Religion is not about food or humanitarian work. In the desert, Jesus rejected this as the first temptation. The devil suggested that Jesus save humanity by ending hunger — but Jesus responded that this was not the path to redemption. Even if every person on earth were well-fed and prosperous, humanity would not be saved.
In fact, we see in the wealthy nations of the world how man self-destructs when he forgets God and focuses only on wealth and earthly comfort. What saves the world is the Bread of God. And that Bread is Christ Himself. What will save the world is man on his knees before God, worshipping and serving Him. God does not serve us — we are made to serve Him.
We were created to praise and worship God. It is in adoring God that we discover our true dignity and the ultimate purpose of our existence. On our knees before Him, we realize our true greatness and nobility. If we do not adore God, we will end up adoring ourselves. God chose this place to be worshipped. He chose France to be like a holy land, a land set apart for Him.
Do not defile France with your barbaric and inhuman laws — laws that promote death, while God desires life. Do not defile France, for it is a sacred land. Brittany is sacred, and it must remain so. God must hold first place here.
Our first duty is to adore and glorify God. This is the highest expression of our gratitude and the most beautiful response to His extraordinary love. To adore, we must set ourselves apart in silence. Come here with a silent heart to listen to God. This is what it means to adopt a sacred posture.
There are sacred places, chosen by God, where only prayer, silence, and liturgy are appropriate. Our churches are not theaters, concert halls, or spaces for cultural entertainment. A church is the house of God and is reserved exclusively for Him. We enter with reverence, properly dressed, trembling not with fear but with awe and admiration.
I want to thank the Bretons who wear their traditional garments to glorify God's majesty. This is not mere folklore. The outward effort you make in your dress reflects the inner effort to present yourselves to God with pure souls, cleansed by the sacraments, adorned with prayer and reverence. Sacred places do not belong to us — they belong to God. The liturgy's purpose is to glorify God and sanctify the faithful. Sacred music is a privileged means of fostering active and conscious participation in the celebration of the Christian mysteries. [...]
In the apparitions, Saint Anne asked Yvon Nicolazic to rebuild the old church and to care for it. That is hard, costly, and demanding — but it reflects what God asks of us today: to rebuild His house. Today, God says to each of us, "I have chosen your soul, your heart, as a sacred place for My worship."
Your baptized soul is a sacred space — do not defile it with disordered passions or worldly distractions. Do not rob God of His rightful place. If the church of your soul is in ruins, hear His call. It is time to rebuild it on the rock — on the solid foundation of Christ.
Yes, it is time to rebuild the church of your soul. Confess your sins — those of word and deed, committed in the night or in the light of day. Now is the favorable time, the day of salvation. "Above all else, guard your heart," says Saint Cyril of Jerusalem. Set aside each day for true silent prayer. Cast out the idols of money, screens, and cheap seduction. God wants your heart. God wants your soul — just as He wanted this land of Brittany.
Your soul is sacred — take care of it. Only in this inner sanctuary can God speak to you, comfort you, and call you to radical conversion. Only in this sacred space will you hear His call to holiness, to become a true worshiper. "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy."
In this sacred space, young man, you may hear His call to the priesthood or religious life. Young woman, you may hear His call to give yourself to Him in consecrated life. But if you defile your soul with sin and worldly distractions, you may miss your true vocation — your very self.
Beloved brothers and sisters, do not rob God of the sacred sanctuary of your soul. God created it, redeemed it — do not profane it. Your body is God's temple. His Spirit dwells within you. Do not destroy this temple, for it is sacred — and you are that temple. God entrusts it to you, that you may care for it and worship Him in silence. God wants this — God wants you.
Dear brothers and sisters, God chose this piece of Breton land with a very special intention: to be honored here through the veneration of Saint Anne. Nowhere else in the world has Saint Anne appeared. What a privilege! What grace! What mystery!
Saint Anne brings a particular message to this place. Alongside Joachim, she suffered the trial of childlessness in old age. Her heart must have been heavy with sorrow and longing. What woman does not suffer deeply from the unfulfilled desire to become a mother?
Many among you also carry this burden — childless couples, parents weighed down by anxiety for sick children, or children who have abandoned the faith. Some of you worry for your families, for your homeland that seems in danger.
Suffering and trials often leave us in profound incomprehension. Why must a child die? Why do the innocent suffer? Why war? Why betrayal? Why, Lord? We sometimes feel abandoned by God. For Europe, many even declare that God is dead.
Should we rebel? Assume God no longer cares? Abandon our faith because He seems silent? Should we stop praying and going to Mass?
Let us look to Saint Anne and listen to her. Does she rebel against God? No — she remains in adoration. God is greater than our doubts and our pain. In the face of evil, we have no ready answers. Our only response is adoration — silent, trusting adoration.
Saint Anne came to tell the Bretons, all of France, and the world: adoration is the only remedy to despair. Faith in God and the worship of God are the only true foundations for lasting peace.
To all who suffer, I say: look to Saint Anne. To all who despair for your children, your loved ones, your country — look to Saint Anne. Like her, persevere in adoration. The adoration of God will never disappoint.
Saint Anne's patient, silent adoration made possible the birth of Mary — the purest, holiest of all creatures, the Mother of the Savior. You who bear sorrow, your adoration will bear fruit in hope. Persevering, determined adoration pierces the darkness and brings the light of hope. [...]
Even when all seems dark, we can always say with our beloved Pope Leo XIV: evil will not prevail. God, our God, is infinitely good, infinitely beautiful, infinitely great. Today, with Saint Anne, in this blessed place chosen by God, let the cry of love rise from each of our hearts:
"Come, let us adore the Lord. Come, let us adore Him. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God. Amen."
Cardinal Robert Sarah
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