Show Notes

Archbishop Vigneron discusses St. Anne as the Patroness of Detroit and the Grandmother of Jesus in honor of the Feast of Ss. Anne and Joachim and the first World Day or Grandparents and the Elderly.

(0:00) Archbishop Vigneron shares some highlights from his last month, including spending time up north and celebrating his 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination. The three also discuss some of the history and highlights of the Archbishop’s time as a bishop.

(5:10) Mary introduces this episode’s topic, which is St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Patroness of Detroit. Archbishop Vigneron talks about who St. Anne is and why she’s so important to us. He discusses the role that Anne and Joachim had in both bringing about the incarnation, and the process by which saints are given patronages.

(10:37) Archbishop Vigneron talks about how St. Anne became the patroness of the Archdiocese of Detroit. They talk about the other possible patrons the archdiocese considered and the historic roots of St. Anne in the city of Detroit, even before the French settlers arrived.

(17:43) Mary asks about the ways our diocese honors St. Anne, and Archbishop Vigneron mentions the annual novena at the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit, invoking her ordinarily in prayer, and other examples. Archbishop Vigneron also talks about the role of Fr. Gabriel Richard in keeping the link to St. Anne and Detroit’s founding.

(22:09) Mike asks about the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit becoming a basilica, and Archbishop Vigneron discusses what that designation means, how it was sought, and why it was granted. He also talks about the Shrine of Ste. Anne and its purpose within the church.

(26:11) The Archbishop talks about the tympanums he commissioned — one for the Chancery downtown, and one in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament — that depict St. Anne as a witness to her patronage.

(33:30) Archbishop Vigneron reflects on the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly and the Holy See’s inspiration behind establishing the celebrations. The three talk about the importance of grandparents in continuing the link or the chain of faith that we trace all the way back to the settlement of Detroit.

(37:49) The three discuss how Ss. Anne and Joachim served as grandparents to Jesus and all that they teach us about these roles. The Archbishop gives some advice of how the faithful can pray for St. Anne’s intercession.

(41:09) Mike and Mary ask the Archbishop questions from the faithful, including whether he’ll watch the Olympics, what he would’ve done if he hadn’t been a priest, and what it was like leading the Church in Oakland.

(48:00) Archbishop Vigneron asks listeners to pray for their priests during the transition to Families of Parishes, and he closes in prayer.

Links from this episode:

Shrine to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre