Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes is a name for the Virgin Mary recalling Marian apparitions near Lourdes, France. The first appearance was on 11 February 1858. It was seen by Bernadette Soubirous, 14 years old, made saint by the Catholic Church in 1933. "Our Lady" was standing in a niche above the main cavity of the Massabielle grotto. Seventeen more appearances were reported that year. In the course of the apparitions, our Lady instructed Bernadette to go in the nearby ground; a spring with healing properties flowed,[1] still active today. After detailed investigation, the apparitions were approved for devotion by the Catholic Church.
| Our Lady of Lourdes | |
|---|---|
 rock cave where Soubirous saw the apparition | |
| Location | Lourdes, France |
| Date | 11 February 1858 |
| Witness | Saint Bernadette Soubirous |
| Type | Marian apparition |
| Holy See approval | 1862, during the pontificate of Pope Pius IX |
| Shrine | Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lourdes, France |
Following a request of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette, a chapel at the grotto was built. Subsequently, due to the great increase of people visiting the chapel following the apparitions, a shrine was also built becoming a popular place of pilgrimage and prayer.
During the years, many miraculous healings have been recognized by the Catholic Church, with the support of medical consultation; a large group of physicians was permanently established in the site to provide continuous advice.[2] Also, many conversions are reported.
The statue of the Lady of Lourdes with a white veil, a white robe with a blue ribbon and at the feet two golden roses, holding a crown of the Holy Rosary prayer, is a representation of the Virgin Mary as described by Saint Bernadette.
The feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes is February 11.
Our Lady Of Lourdes Media
Studio photograph of Bernadette Soubirous (age 14) in daily attire. (c. 1 January 1858)
Painting of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in the Grotto at Massabielle, near Lourdes, France
The venerated image of Our Lady of Lourdes was granted a decree of canonical coronation on 1 February 1876 by Pope Pius IX. The coronation ceremony was executed on 3 July 1876. During that same year, an oversized golden laurel wreath was placed at the base as well as a stellar halo being attached to the head of the image; both no longer present.
Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes to Bernadette by Antonio Ciseri, 1879
The sanctuary basilica built at Lourdes directly above the grotto of the apparitions
Pope John Paul II in 1983 at the Grotto of Massabielle of the Lourdes Shrine
Pope Benedict XVI placing a crown[a] on Our Lady of Lourdes for the plenary indulgence he attached for pilgrims of the World Day of the Sick. 11 February 2007, Saint Peter's Basilica.
Stained glass of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette by William Earley
The venerated Marian image in Quezon City, canonically crowned by formal decree of Pope Francis for the Philippines on 22 August 2020
References
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