Our Lady of the Seas (Notre-Dame-de-Mers / Notre-Dame-de-Garde)

Marian Advocation of Gaspé (Quebec)
Popular devotion (not officially recognized by the Church)

Gaspé's Marian devotion is linked to the sea. A first statue of the Virgin was installed in the 20th century in a promontory over the port of Gaspé, as a gesture of confidence of the sailors in the protection of Mary under the traditional title of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde (Our Lady of the Guard). A diocesan sanctuary, now called "Sanctuaire diocesain Notre-Dame-de-Mers" (Our Lady of the Seas), was then erected in that place, which welcomes pilgrims and celebrates special liturgy for fishermen, for the victims of the sea and for creation.

Main data

Origin and history

Gaspé's Marian devotion is linked to the sea. A first statue of the Virgin was installed in the 20th century in a promontory over the port of Gaspé, as a gesture of confidence of the sailors in the protection of Mary under the traditional title of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde (Our Lady of the Guard). A diocesan sanctuary, now called "Sanctuaire diocesain Notre-Dame-de-Mers" (Our Lady of the Seas), was then erected in that place, which welcomes pilgrims and celebrates special liturgy for fishermen, for the victims of the sea and for creation.

The local tradition attributes to the intercession of the Virgin several bailouts in the sea and protection from storms; these stories appear in personal and exotic testimonies, but have not been the object of canonical processes.

The image and the sanctuary

The place of worship is a small chapel-sanctuary located on the hill above the port of Gaspé, erected as a diocesan sanctuary under the title of Notre-Dame-de-Mers. The sanctuary retains marine exvotes - boat models and thanksgiving plates - offered by families who attribute to the Virgin her safe and sound return, documented in the visits and presentations of the place. There is no canonical coronation of the image.

Sponsorship and coronation

La Virgen es venerada como protectora de los marineros y pescadores de Gaspé. No consta una coronación canónica ni un patronazgo «oficial» a nivel nacional.

Party and devotion

The patron party is held in summer (between July and August), with procession and blessing of the sea. The sources do not match on a fixed day and do not indicate a liturgical date other than the general calendar, so an exact and stable date is not recorded. Devotion is especially expressed in prayer for fishermen and for those who have perished at sea.

Link to the Rosary

There is no specific link to the Rosary in the consulted sources (co-fradia or title), beyond ordinary Marian devotion.