Reliquary of Saint Anne in the Cathedral of Saint Anne, Apt, France
Feast of Saint Anne—July 26th
July 26th is the feast of Sainte Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. I would like to share a story with you that I read about the relics of Sainte Anne in Apt, France on Catholic Tradition, and photographs I took on July 26, 2016 at the Cathedral of Sainte Anne in Apt, France.
Every summer since 2013 I have come to Provence to lead Mary Magdalene Pilgrimages. We spend 6 days visiting the towns where Mary Magdalene and her companions lived, preached and died after their boat landed on the coast of Gaul in 47 AD. The town of Apt (with the relics of Saint Anne) is a little north of the other places we visit. I want for you to see where Apt is in case you want to go there one day. It is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from St. Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume.
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From Christian Tradition: According to a most ancient and uninterrupted tradition, the body of St. Anne was carried to Gaul [a province of the Roman empire which included what are now the countries of France and upper Italy] by the same vessel which carried Lazarus, Martha and Mary Magdalene there. During the first century of the Christian era, these friends of Our Lord were banished from Palestine because of their faith. From their hands St. Anne’s precious remains were taken for safekeeping to the city of Apta Julia, which in our own times is the city of Apt, France. In those stormy days of persecution, it was necessary to hide the relics of the Martyrs and Saints.
The first bishop of Apta Julia, St. Auspicius, who died before 118, took further precautions to guard this holy treasure from desecration and had the body buried still deeper in the subterranean chapel. All approach to it was carefully concealed till persecutions and invasions should have ceased. For centuries, the country was repeatedly overrun by hordes of barbarians, and it was only natural that during these agitated years the precise spot where St. Auspicius had carefully hidden his treasure became lost in obscurity.After Charlemagne’s decisive victory over the Saracens at the close of the eighth century, peace and security returned to Gaul. It was then that the people began to restore and rebuild the holy places destroyed or desecrated by the invaders. Priests and bishops of Apta Julia began to seek for the exact Spot in the deep crypt where St. Auspicius had hidden and walled up the sarcophagus of St. Anne.
Charlemagne (2 April 742 – 28 January 814), also known as Charles the Great or Charles I, was the King of the Franks from 768, the King of Italy from 774, the first Holy Roman Emperor, and the first emperor in western Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire three centuries earlier.
Sainte Anne Cathedral with Crypt of Sainte Anne below, opened up in the middle of the stairs exactly where the deaf, dumb and blind boy struck the steps.
Charlemagne was deeply impressed. After Mass, he commanded that the excavation desired by the boy should be made. The altar steps were removed and a door, closed up with huge stones, was revealed. This was the door of the ancient crypt in which St Auspicius had been accustomed to celebrate the holy Mysteries and to feed his flock with the Bread of Life. Its size and adornments reminded one of the Roman catacombs.
St Auspicius, first bishop of Apta Julia, celebrated the Holy Mass here in the 1st century. St Auspicius was the one to hide the relics of Sainte Anne.
No sooner had this door been opened and the flight of steps leading down from it disclosed than the blind boy rushed forward, as if his eyes had been suddenly opened, and led the way into this underground church. Charlemagne now held the boy’s hand and gave orders to keep back the excited multitude.
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Flight of steps leads down to a long narrow corridor
The long narrow corridor
John made signs that they should search farther, and he struck the wall of the crypt, indicating that what they sought lay beyond. When the wall was broken down, another and lower crypt was discovered at the end of a long and narrow corridor. As they came in view of this crypt, a bright light flashed upon the Emperor and his assistants. They beheld, in front of a walled recess, a burning lamp, which flooded the place with unearthly splendor. No sooner, however, had the Emperor and his cortege entered this place, than the lamp went out.
Crypt of Sainte Anne with her sarcophagus
But, more wonderful still, at that very moment the blind boy could see, speak and hear. “The body of Sainte Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, is in yonder recess,” were his first words.
The awe-stricken Emperor and his followers, at first dumb with amazement, gave vent to their emotion in words of praise and thanksgiving. The walled recess was thrown open, a sweet fragrance like that of oriental balm filled the air, and a casket of cypress wood was discovered containing the body of Sainte Anne wrapped round and round with folds of precious cloth. On the casket was the inscription: “Here lies the body of Blessed Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary.” Charlemagne, with all those present, venerated the sacred deposit thus brought to light. Afterward he had an exact narrative of the discovery drawn up by one of his notaries and a copy sent to the Pope with the royal letter.
This letter and the Pope’s answer still exist. One day I will try to get copies of both (is what I thought in 2016), but how? Maybe I could one day get into the Vatican library and have a look, although I did not know the process, or even if they would ever allow me that privilege, but I truly wanted to see those original letters – I like to see the evidence when possible.
The sarcophagus of Sainte Anne, the mother of the Blessed Mother
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MIRACULOUS DELIVERY of the LETTERS—The two letters I so desired to find, the one Charlemagne had notarized and sent to Pope Adrien I and the pope’s reply, suddenly showed up in my WhatsApp on July 2, 2018! I really couldn’t believe it!
It was June 19, 2018 and I had just completed a 5-day Mary Magdalene Pilgrimage with six lovely ladies from Omaha, Nebraska. They were on their way to Marseille Airport and before I left St Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume I stopped to share a drink with a French woman, Florence Humbert, a local tour guide to some religious sites in the area who lives in St Maximin. Florence told me about the thorn from the Holy Crown of Thorns in Tourves (just 12 kilometers away from where we were sitting) that she had just had the privilege of seeing. I was fascinated with this story of hers. Within days I did my own research, trying to find out how and why a genuine thorn from the crown of thorns that Jesus wore during his crucifixion ended up in the tiny town of Tourves, ….and then wrote the blog post entitled Holy Crown of Thorns.
Florence and I were now communicating over WhatsApp. On July 1st Florence sent me a lovely photo of lavender fields with this message: “Hello Paula. We passed by APT today but I don’t remember what its worth to see in the church. Could you send me the mail where you talk about it? THANKS” So I forwarded Florence my blog post Sainte Anne Relics miraculously discovered. Florence wrote me back thanking me profusely.
The next day a long text came over WhatsApp from Florence …all in French. Included in it were EXACT COPIES OF THE TWO LETTERS I was searching for! They had been found by the French research/writer P. Dupuy, who had included them verbatim in his 1887 book for the sanctuary of Sainte Anne de Beaupré in Canada. (1)
I immediately wrote to Florence: “Hello dear Florence, ever since I discovered from research the fact that Charlemagne was actually in the Cathedral of Sainte Anne on the day the relics were miraculously discovered and that he had a notary record everything and send a letter to the pope, I have been wanting to try and get a copy of his letter from the Vatican library and also the Pope’s reply. And now you have miraculously found exactly what I have wanted and sent it to me! A grand merci beaucoup! See how God works in our lives?”
And Florence replied: “Thanks to you all of my family knows this story now… from a california woman…. it is a wonderful story and I’ll go there with my mother soon because st anne is her patroness… Thank you again… St anne bless us all!!!”
I present these two letters with great pleasure:
Charlemagne’s Letter to Pope Adrien I about the miraculous discovery
Pope Adrien I’s reply
Charlemagne statue on the Alte Mainbrücke in Würzburg, Germany
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How lucky were we, after visiting the crypt on the July 26th feast day, to have the parish priest unlock the doors to the side chapel and the doors on the altar containing Sainte Anne Relics just as we were getting ready to leave the church. In this side chapel is where they keep the reliquary of Sainte Anne (top row center). This gave me the opportunity to get up close and photograph the reliquary.
Sainte Anne Cathedral side chapel where the reliquary of Sainte Anne (top row center) is kept with others locked behind an iron grate
Sainte Anne Reliquary – mother of the Blessed Mother
The parish priest came to celebrate the evening feast day Mass (July 26th) in the side chapel where the relics of Sainte Anne are kept.
Sainte Anne’s feast day Mass – July 26, 2016
The miraculous discovery at once made the Cathedral of Apt the center of attraction for Christian pilgrims from every part of Gaul. In the wars which followed the reign of Charlemagne down to our own times, the clergy and people of Apt have watched with never failing love over the sacred treasure which is the glory of their city. Travelers visiting the venerable Cathedral of Sainte Anne will find piles of ex votos, the indisputable testimonies during eleven centuries of the wonders wrought there by Christ at the intercession of His sainted Grandmother. The chief cities of Gaul hastened to solicit from the church of Apta Julia portions of the hallowed body thus miraculously discovered. Fragments detached from the head found their way to various places through the favor of sovereigns or powerful prelates, but the greatest portion of Sainte Anne’s sacred body still reposes in Apt.
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From left to right: Toni Van Horn, Kathy Wiese, Janelle Bentley, Jamie Devine-Mundt, Sue Clark and Tamatha Kaplan. These Omaha, Nebraska ladies came on the Mary Magdalene Pilgrimage in 2018.
Cathédrale de Sainte-Anne d’Apt
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Vienna, Austria, possesses the right hand of St. Anne, which is devoutly venerated in the beautiful church which bears her name.
On July 15, 1892, Bishop Marquis brought from Rome a relic of Saint Anne and installed it in the new sanctuary of Saint Anne in the church of Saint Jean Baptiste in New York City. (2)
An arm of the Saint was solicited and obtained by the Popes and placed under the care of the Benedictine monks in the magnificent monastery church of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls in Rome. In May, 1960, the Benedictines gave the forearm to the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré in Canada.
In the Cathedral of Bologna, Italy, a large portion of the Saint’s head is venerated.
(2) https://www.tfp.org/good-saint-anne-visits-new-york/
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Saints Ann & Mary Medal
Saintes Anne and Mary Necklace 18mm
Dear Paula,
Thank you so much for writing and sending this beautiful article!!! I had heard this information before but I’d never seen pictures of Apt. I am a great lover of both St. Anne and St. Mary Magdalene and I believe there is a story to tell about the connection between France as eldest daughter of the Church, St. Mary Magdalene-eldest daughter of the Church, and the devotions to the Immaculate Conception and the Sacred Heart which both came out of France. Did you notice that St. Mary Magdalene, who was present when the Heart of Jesus was opened, came to France in 47 and that St. Margaret Mary was born on July 22, 1947? Also did you ever consider that St. Anne, mother of the Immaculate Conception, was buried in the country where that mystery would be clarified at Rue de Bac in 1830 and at Lourdes in 1858? Here is my recent post on St. Mary Magdalene. http://deadphilosopherssociety.com/in-memory-of-her-6746/God bless you!
Sister Mary Rose Reddy, DMML
Thanks you for your wonderful website. The Arc of the Covenant disappeared ~ 586 BC. The base of
Mt. Tabor (Church of the Transfiguration) is 420 meters or 1378 feet above sea level. The time of 4:20 AM is the time of Our Lord’s Resurrection. Emperor Charlemagne built a Church in Apt, France in 792 AD in honor of St. Anne. From 586 BC to 792 AD was 1378 years. Mt. Tabor height is 575 meters or 1886 feet above sea level.
The Cathedral of St John the Baptist (Shroud of Turin) in Turin, Italy is 245 meters above sea level. The time of 2:45 AM is the time of Our Blessed Mother’s Mary birth. The belief is that the Arc of the Covenant is in Ethiopia at a height of 6991 feet (Church of St Mary Zion) or 2131 meters above sea level. The difference between 2131 meters and 245 meters is 1886.
I was totally blown away by this wonderful story of that young boy who led the clergy to the actual resting place of St. Anne. Praise God that he would allow this most beautiful discovery. Please pray for me that I
may always remember this wonderful day in my remaining days of life on this earth that I was fortunate enough to see the wonderful pictures in full color the Tomb of St. Anne.
God Bless always this wonderous site and all the people involved in securing and maintaining this most beautiful chapel.
Thank you Jesus for helping to bring me this most beautiful story of the Mother of your most dear Mother, The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Sincerely in Jesus and Mary always
Robert
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing! I,too, am a client of Saint Anne! I just finished reading this miracle story in the little TAN booklet “Good Saint Anne.” To find this photo illustrated version of the story was a little miracle itself! Pax tibi!
I was deeply moved and inspired especially at difficult and struggling times we have to discover miracles happened in our midst… My heart was full of happiness and peace dwells within me knowing our Lord is touching us in His own special way! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing experience with us, “Ingatan at pagpalain po kayo ng Panginoon! Glory to God, Glory to Christ Jesus!
I was deeply amazed about the story of St. Anne our grandmother. Me, too is an avid devotee of St. Anne. She is our patroness here in our town The National Shrine and Parish of St. Anne in Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippines. She is always be our INANG (mother) and comfortress. Thanks for the story. Godspeed!!! God loves Us!!!!
It was 29 of July, a Saturday my regular duty. While browsing my FB i was caught my attention learning and knowing About Saint Anne that she was the grandmother of our Christ our Lord Jesus and the Mother of Mother Mary.
I must say I was blessed and comfort by Mother Saint Anne. After reading her Life story❤️AMEN
Saint Anne, Grandmother of Jesus, Mother of Mama Mary, Pray for us. Amen
How is it that the Eastern Orthodox have her right hand? I just visited a Romanian Orthodox Church and a monk priest from Greece was there with her hand encased in a silver glove inside a metal and glass reliquary.
I do not know, but this summer when I am in Apt during the Mary Magdalene Pilgrimage in Provence I will ask the priest in Apt.
Also this:
http://saintana.org/2017/12/18/holy-hand-of-saint-anna-visiting-seattle/
https://www.saintanna.org/the-first-holy-relic-of-saint-anna/
So do the East and West share her relics? And if so why does the article not mention this?
I am the one who wrote the article and I did not know that. I will look into it.
You need to explain why the Catholic Encyclopedia says that her relics were removed in 710 to the Basilica of St Sophia in Constantinople.
Hello Julia, I will try to get an answer to your question when I visit the Crypt of Saint Anne next month (May 2019). I will ask the priest.
Infinite Thanks for sharing this Exquiite, Extraordinary Miracle with us! We are deeply humbled by such a Grace as this! May all of St Anne’s Children be blessed with this beautiful miracle who’s Light shines a path of faith and humble trust in the majesty and Glory of our God who sent His Holy Son to redeem us!!
Hello, I really enjoyed this article and with your permission, I would like to paraphrase your information and images to make a video for the primary school children at our school which is attached to St Anne’s Church in Bondi, Sydney, where there is a national shrine for St Anne. I’d like to let you know that we also have a first class relic of St Anne there. One of our previous parish priests visited the Cathedral of St Anne in Quebec where he was given a fragment of her wrist bone to bring back to Australia with the permission of the Holy See. There is a reliquary there and a certificate of authentication, the letter from the Holy See. Its very special so that’s one to add to the list!
Hello Laura,
Yes, of course you have my permission to use the information and photographs in this article to prepare a video for the primary school children at your school attached to St Anne’s Catholic Church in North Bondi, Sydney, NSW, Australia. I would love to view the video when it is complete.
Many blessings to all who work on this holy project….
Sincerely,
Paula Lawlor
It is by some divine interventiom that I came to know more about Saint Anne on her exact feast day, 26th of July. This maybe the miracle I am praying for. Thank you for this wonderful story.
Wonderful article