Our Lady of the Cape facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Our Lady of the Cape Our Lady of the Rosary of the Cape
The image enshrined on the high altar.
Location	Trois-Rivières, Canada
Date	1879
Approval	Pope Pius X (Canonical coronation)
Shrine	Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cape

Our Lady of the Cape (also known as Notre-Dame-du-Cap in French) is a special title given to Mary, the mother of Jesus. This title is used in a place called Cap-de-la-Madeleine, which is in Quebec, Canada. It specifically refers to a beautiful statue of Mary. This statue is now kept in a very old church there. Important church leaders, like Pope Pius X and Pope Pius XII, have honored this statue.

The Story of Our Lady of the Cape

Early Beginnings in Cap-de-la-Madeleine

People in Cap-de-la-Madeleine have shown great respect for Mary since 1694. This began with a group called the Brotherhood of the Rosary. Father Paul Vachon started this group. In 1720, Father Vachon built a small stone church. It replaced an older church made of wood. After Father Vachon passed away in 1729, the church became less active. It wasn't until 1845 that a new priest, Father Leandre Tourigny, arrived.

A New Start for Devotion

In 1867, a priest named Father Luc Desilets helped bring back devotion to Mary. He was very upset when he saw a pig inside the church. The pig was chewing on a rosary that a visitor had left. Because of this, Father Desilets promised to dedicate himself to Mary. He also worked to encourage his church members to pray the rosary again.

The Statue of Mary

In 1854, a church member named Zepherin Dorval gave a statue to the church. He was going to look for gold and wanted Mary's protection. The statue shows Mary as she is believed to have appeared to Catherine Laboure in Paris in 1830.

What the Statue Looks Like

The statue shows Mary standing. She looks similar to how she appears on the Miraculous Medal. Her eyes are looking down gently, and her face looks kind. A white veil covers her head. Her clothes are decorated with gold. Her bare feet are shown stepping on a snake. The snake is coiled on top of a globe with stars. The statue was first placed in a special area near an altar. Later, it was moved to a place above the main altar.

The Amazing Ice Bridge Miracle

A Growing Church Needs More Space

As more people started coming to church, the old building became too small. In 1878, everyone decided they needed a bigger church. They planned to build it with stones from the other side of the St. Lawrence River. The river is about 1.25 miles wide at Cap-de-la-Madeleine. The plan was to bring the stones across the frozen river on sleds during winter.

A Mild Winter Causes a Problem

However, the winter of 1878-1879 was very mild. The St. Lawrence River did not freeze as much as needed. This made it hard to get the stones for the new church. Father Desilets asked his church members to pray the rosary. They prayed for ice so they could cross the river. He also promised Mary that if she helped, he would dedicate the old church to her. The old church was then dedicated to Mary Magdalene.

The "Rosary Bridge" Appears

In March 1879, something amazing happened. Pieces of ice floated down the river from Lake St-Pierre. They formed a "bridge" across the St. Lawrence River. People believed this was a miracle from Mary. This ice bridge was called the Rosary Bridge. This name came from its connection to the rosary prayer. For several days, people poured water on the ice pieces. This made the ice thicker and stronger. They then used this path to move the stones across the river. Father Desilets kept his promise and renamed the old church for Mary.

The Miracle of the Eyes

On June 22, 1888, the old stone church was officially dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. Dorval's statue was moved to a place above the altar. That evening, Father Desilets, Father Frédéric Janssoone, and a church member named Pierre Lacroix were praying. They all saw the statue's eyes appear to open. This lasted for about five to ten minutes. The two priests moved around the church to see if it was an illusion.

When people heard about this unusual event, more visitors came to the church. Starting in 1892, there were also reports of people being healed.

Visiting the Shrine

Special Honors for the Statue

In 1904, Pope Pius X allowed the statue to receive a special honor called a canonical coronation. Bishop François-Xavier Cloutier performed this ceremony. The crown for the statue was given by the Irish community in Montreal. The statue received a second coronation in August 1954. Cardinal Valerio Valeri represented Pope Pius XII for this event.

Pilgrimages and Visits

Pope John Paul II visited the shrine in 1984 during his trip to Quebec. This visit started a new tradition. Young people now make annual pilgrimages to the shrine. This event is known as Cap-Jeunesse.

Many people visit the shrine each year. Hundreds of buses bring visitors from Canada and the United States. In late July, people from the Quebec Italian community stop at the basilica. They are on their way to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré for a special celebration on July 26.

Walking Journeys to the Shrine

The Marie Reine de la Paix pilgrims arrive every year on August 15. This is the Feast of the Assumption. Some people walk 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) from Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Celebrations include torchlight parades and special songs for visitors from the Haitian community.

Another group, the Marie Reine Canada pilgrims, started in 2003. They walk 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) in three days. Their journey begins in St.-Joseph-de-Lanoraie (Lanoraie, Quebec). They walk through Maskinongé and Trois-Rivières. This pilgrimage happens every Labour Day weekend.