Yves Nicolazic

Yves Nicolazic (3 April 1591 – 13 May 1645) was a Breton peasant who claimed he saw Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, having unearthed a previously forgotten statue of Saint Anne in his field. This became the site of the great pilgrimage center of Keranna (Sainte-Anne-d'Auray). He is responsible for the building of the Basilica of Saint Anne.

Its history and that of the appearances are well known and well authenticated, especially with the "declaration which he himself made before Sir Jacques Bullion on 12 March 1625" in the presbytery of Pluneret.

Biography

Yves Nicolazic was born in Pluneret, in the diocese of Gwened (French: Vannes), on 3 April 1591. Nicolazic was a peasant who only spoke Breton and knew neither how to read nor write. He was however a capable farmer and well regarded. But he was also a man of simple and deep spiritual life, known to be always praying, helping others, and being charitable. The historians Buléon and Le Garrec, call him a secular saint.

Nicolazic and his wife, Guillemette Le Roux, It was an old wooden statue, much eroded, with however still traces of white and azure.

Three days later, the pilgrims began to arrive in droves to pray before the statue. These multitudes have not stopped even up to these times. Despite the reservations of the Parish Priest, the first official mass was celebrated by decision of the Bishop of Gwened (Vannes), on 26 July 1625.

From that day on, Yves Nicolazic became ‘the Builder’. He directed the work and lent his strength to the construction of the Basilica.

He died on Sainte-Anne-d'Auray 13 May 1645.

Legacy The place took the name of Sainte-Anne-d'Auray and the 'pardon' which is taking place every year is the largest in Brittany. On 20 September 1996, John Paul II came there to pray in this Breton sanctuary, and with him there were 150,000 pilgrims.

A preliminary local investigation for Nicolazic's beatification was opened on 27 November 1937. He was later declared a Servant of God.