The forgiveness of Saint-Anne at Portrieux
On 26 July, the people of Portrieux decorate their houses with fishing nets and flowers. In the evening, after a religious service in the chapel, the statue of the saint, solemnly carried in the past by fishermen and sailors in their working clothes, and today by the parishioners, is carried in procession through the streets to the sound of hymns. Often accompanied by the bagad, the procession ends with a blessing of the sea and, unless the weather forbids it, a bonfire.
Refrain from the traditional hymn to Saint Anne:
Sainte Anne, Ô Bonne Mère,
Toi que nous implorons,
Entends notre prière,
Et bénis tes bretons.
Since the end of the Middle Ages, “forgiveness” has been a traditional manifestation of the Breton popular faith. This penitential approach allows us to ask the saint to intercede for the pilgrims. The ceremony is held on a fixed date to honor and pray to the patron saint of a place. A mass is followed by an outdoor procession following a determined route, with relics or statues of the saint, banners and music. The religious ceremony is often followed by a more secular celebration.
Very numerous under the old regime, pardons disappeared during the Revolution but returned in force in the 19th century. The most numerous are those which honor the Virgin Mary, followed by those dedicated to Saint Anne her mother. Then come all the pardons which concern local saints, because of their ability to heal or protect certain categories of people. Saint Quay is one of them…
The main “pardons” of Saint Anne take place at Sainte Anne d’Auray (56) and Sainte Anne la Palud (29). They bring together thousands of people every year. Other more modest pardons take place in the numerous chapels and churches dedicated to him. Like at the Sainte Anne chapel in the port.
Who is Saint Anne?
According to Christian tradition, Saint Anne is the wife of Saint Joachim and mother of the Virgin Mary.
Its cult in Brittany dates back to the first evangelization of Armorica in the 5th and 6th centuries. Saint Anne was honored at La Palud since that time. It is possible that the cult of Saint Anne took the place of that of the Celtic goddess Ana, venerated in our regions in the first centuries of our era.
L’éducation de la Vierge – Philippe Matozrec – 1777 (détail)
In August 1623, Saint Anne appeared to a peasant from Morbihan, Yves Nicolazic, near Auray. At this location a chapel was built, then the basilica of Sainte-Anne d’Auray and the cult of Saint Anne spread throughout Brittany. Almost all Breton churches have their statue of Saint Anne, many chapels or churches are dedicated to her.
Portrait d’Yves Nicolazic – Philippe Matozrec
It was on July 26, 1914 that Pope Pius XI consecrated her “Patrona Provinciae Britaniae”, “Patroness of the province of Brittany”. Saint Anne now shares this title with Saint Yves, patron saint of Brittany since the end of the Middle Ages. She is sometimes nicknamed “Mamm gozh ar Vretoned” “grandmother of the Bretons”
Saint Anne is celebrated on July 26.