Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 27, 2024
The city of Lourdes is a major place of pilgrimage for those who practice the Catholic religion. Lourdes became famous following the various apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous that took place between February 11 and July 16, 1858. In 1858, in the grotto of Massabielle, near Lourdes, in France, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous , a young peasant girl of 14 years old. She presented herself as the Immaculate Conception . She transmitted to Bernadette a message intended for the entire population: "Pray and do penance for the conversion of the world".
The Church studied Bernadette's claims for four years before recognizing devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. Our Lady of Lourdes is recognized as the patron saint of the sick , as many people claim that with her waters she heals people with incurable diseases.
In this article we share with you a beautiful story of Our Lady of Lourdes , her apparitions, her Miracles and a biography of Bernadette Soubirous.
If you enjoyed this Christian article and would like to learn more about the history of Notre Dame, here are several articles that might interest you:
- The story of Our Lady of Fatima
- The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- The history of Our Lady of the Guard
And here are several articles of prayers to the Virgin Mary that you can discover on our site:
- Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
- Prayer to Our Lady of Fatima
- Prayer to Mary
- Prayer to the Immaculate Conception
- Prayer to the Miraculous Medal
- Hail Mary: Prayer
Without further ado, let’s start reading!
1) Bernadette Soubirous Lourdes: Biography
A. Who was Bernadette Soubious?
Bernadette was born on January 7, 1844 at the Moulin de Boly near Lourdes. She was the daughter of François Soubirous, a miller, and Louise née Castérot, and was baptized two days later. She had a difficult childhood. Her father, who had lost his job, found himself in a ruined situation. In Lourdes, the family was forced to live in an unhealthy room, the "cachot". Miserable, fragile and asthmatic, Bernadette was raised from 1857 in Bartrès, a small village located a few kilometers from Lourdes. There she was a servant and a poor little shepherdess .
In January 1858, she returned to Lourdes to make her first communion. It was there that, from February 11 to July 16, 1858, the Holy Virgin appeared to her eighteen times on the banks of the Gave , on the site of the Massabielle grotto . From this episode onwards, Bernadette was subjected to multiple, often painful, interrogations by the ecclesiastical and civil authorities.
B. Bernadette Soubious: Thirteen years of Religious Life
In 1860, Bernadette was placed in the hospice of the Sisters of Charity in Lourdes . There, she learned to read and write and demonstrated her great simplicity and submission, marked by spirit and joy. In 1864, the young woman requested entry into this congregation. But Monsignor Laurence, Bishop of Tarbes, who had recognized the apparitions in 1862, wanted Bernadette to wait until the inauguration of the Grotto to leave Lourdes. Consequently, she began her postulancy in this city.
On July 4, 1866, Bernadette left Lourdes for Nevers . After a month, the young woman took the habit in the congregation of the Sisters of Charity and named herself Sister Marie-Bernard. In October 1867, Bernadette took her vows . These thirteen years of religious life were marked by much suffering and pain. Employed in the infirmary, she provided remarkable care to the sick and brought them immense comfort through her immense self-denial. On April 16, 1879 , after several months spent bedridden, Bernadette died at the age of 35, whispering: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner." Her body, which remained inexplicably intact, is now preserved in a sanctuary in the chapel of the Sisters of Charity in Nevers.
C. Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes
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February 11, 1858
Bernadette Soubirous goes with two friends to get wood to warm her house. Suddenly, she sees in the hollow of the rock a very young and beautiful woman, with a white dress and veil and a blue belt. She has bare feet and a yellow rose on each of them.
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February 14, 1858
Bernadette, accompanied by some classmates, returns to the grotto. She kneels down and can once again contemplate the Lady. While the young girl prays with her rosary, the "White Lady", who also carries hers, imitates her but without uttering a single word.
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February 18, 1858
Bernadette, accompanied by two ladies, obtains permission from her parents with difficulty to return to the cave. It is said in the village that Bernadette is either a liar or a madwoman. "I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but I will make you happy in the next," the Lady tells the child. She then adds: "Do me a favor by coming here for fifteen consecutive days."
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February 19, 1858
The Virgin says nothing
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February 20, 1858
The Virgin transmits to Bernadette a prayer that is exclusively intended for her. The young girl will pray it all her life.
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February 21, 1858
Bernadette tells her companions: "The Lady looked over my head at all the people who were accompanying me." Her gaze was sad and she said: "Please pray to God for sinners."
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February 23, 1858
On that day, the child will receive three secrets from the Lady. She will take them to the grave. The Virgin has asked her not to tell them to anyone.
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February 24, 1858
Bernadette relates that the Lady pronounced these words three times: “Penance. Penance. Penance.”
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February 25, 1858
"Go to the spring and drink," the Vision told Bernadette. The girl who had not seen a fountain was heading towards the Gave River which passes at the foot of the grotto. "No, this way," the Lady specified. The girl dug into the earth and water gushed out. The Lady also asked her to eat some grass. She obeyed.
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February 27, 1858
"The lady asked me to walk on my knees and kiss the earth. I did." Then Bernadette, with an imperative gesture, ordered those present to kiss the earth as well, as a form of penance for sinners.
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February 28, 1858
The Lady gives the young girl this message: "Go tell the priests to have a chapel built for me in this place."
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March 1, 1858
The Lady of the Grotto insists that Bernadette go and ask the priests: build a chapel and bring the people in procession. "Let this lady say who she is and give proof of her truthfulness," replied the priest.
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March 2, 1858
As Bernadette contemplates the Lady, she reaches into her pocket, takes out her rosary and lifts it up to show it to the Apparition.
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March 3, 1858
The Lady explains to the child that those who come to mock God's actions desecrate his grotto. She also reminds the little shepherdess of her message to the priests of Lourdes.
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March 4, 1858
About twenty thousand people came to the grotto, hoping that the lady would perform a miracle that they too could see. Bernadette arrives but the Virgin remains silent and invisible to the spectators. Only the little shepherdess can contemplate her.
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March 25, 1858
When she entered into ecstasy, she implored the Lady three times: "Madam, would you be so kind as to tell me your name? I am the Immaculate Conception."
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April 7, 1858
Bernadette, a rosary in one hand and a candle in the other, prays fervently. During the ecstasy, the young girl, without realizing it, brings her hand closer to the flame of the candle which touches her fingers for long minutes without any sign of burning appearing on her skin.
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July 16, 1858
It has been months since the last apparition. Bernadette feels an intense desire to go to the grotto. She is accompanied by a few people. Our Lady and Bernadette look at each other in silence.
2) Lourdes, its grotto, its waters, the Holy Virgin
A. Lourdes water
The spring was brought to Bernadette Soubirous' attention by an apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes on February 25, 1858. Since then, several thousand pilgrims to Lourdes have followed Our Lady of Lourdes' instruction to "drink from the spring and wash there."
B. The Sanctuary of Lourdes
The sanctuary of Lourdes remains the main French Catholic pilgrimage site. The sanctuary consists of the grotto, the site of the apparitions, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of the Rosary, the Gave, a forecourt, the Basilica of Saint Pius X, a meadow, the area intended for the reception of the sick, fountains, swimming pools, the Church of Saint Bernadette, an imposing Stations of the Cross and several premises intended for services.
Access the Grotto of Massabielle, site of the apparitions, in the center of which you will discover the spring of Bernadette. To the right of the Grotto, access the Fountains, in which you can drink the water of Lourdes. If you wish, you will also be able to visit the pools of the Sanctuary to immerse yourself in the water of the spring.
C. Pilgrimage to Lourdes
One of the oldest pilgrimages to Lourdes is the one that takes place in the city every year around August 15. Throughout the six days of the pilgrimage to Lourdes, sick, disabled or healthy pilgrims are invited to live "an experience of faith and Christian communion" in the context of ceremonies, meetings and catechism meetings.
Every evening at 9pm, from April to October, the highlight of the day for visitors to Lourdes takes place. Take part in the Marian procession with torches, the most moving moment of the day for pilgrims and visitors.
Live streaming of masses from Lourdes
To conclude this article about the history of Lourdes, we would like to share with you: Lourdes TV . This is the official television of the sanctuaries of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. It broadcasts live and continuously all the events concerning Lourdes. The television channel thus contributes to strengthening your faith as a Catholic. The various pilgrimages and the mass of the day are broadcast live from the grotto through this religious channel. The channel is accessible on the internet in order to enjoy all the programs of Lourdes.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Our Lady of Lourdes. If you are passionate about the story of the Virgin Mary, we invite you to read our article " History of the Virgin Mary " where you can learn more about the Holy Mother of Jesus Christ. 🤱
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