July 25

July 25

Orthodox: Dormition of Saint Anna

I am Anna, Mary’s Mother (I) In the beginning of August 1623, in the evening after a hard day of work, as Yves Nicolazic let himself have special thoughts for Saint Anna, his “good patron saint”, his room lit up all of a sudden. This young peasant from Brittany then saw a hand appear in the dark holding a wax torch. Later Yves saw these apparitions again several times, and found himself taken out into the darkest night following a wax torch that led him along narrow paths. One evening with his brother-in-law, they saw a white Lady with a wax torch in her hand in a well-known field called Bocenno. Another time, they saw shooting stars falling into that field. But all these events happened in a peaceful and unhurried manner. And Yves, who asked himself plenty of questions, never changed anything about himself, if not only to pray more fervently. On 25th July 1624, the day before the feast of Saint Anna, the Lady appeared to him again in the evening as he was walking down a path, told him reassuring words and led him home with a wax torch in her hand. However Yves could not rest quietly with his family that evening. He was too perplexed about these events, so he left his house and went outside to pray in the barn. On his way, he heard the “sound of the feet of crowds marching". But there is nobody on the path! Then in a bright light, the mysterious Lady appeared and spoke to him. “Yves Nicolazic, do not fear. I am Anna, Mary’s mother. Tell your rector that a one time there used to be a chapel on that patch of land called Bocenno, even before there was village here. It was the most popular one in all the country. It was destroyed 924 years and 6 months ago. I would like to have it rebuilt as soon as possible. I would like you to take care of it because God wants me to be honored there."