Our Lady of Lourdes
I am the Immaculate Conception
The feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes is 11 February, commemorating 18 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to then 14 year old Saint Bernadette Soubiroux in 1858 in Lourdes France.
When Bernadette asked the Lady’s identity, she replied, “I am the Immaculate Conception”.
The Blessed Virgin, through Bernadette, had come to call sinners to a change of heart. She instructed Bernadette to tell the priests that a chapel was to be built on the site and processions held.
Our Lady also told Bernadette to dig in the dirt and drink of the stream. Bernadette began to dig, and after several attempts was able to find water which continued to flow producing over 32,000 gallons of water a day - as it still does today. There have been over 5,000 cures recorded at the site but less than 100 have been declared miraculous. Every year, more than 2 million people make their way through the mountainous country of south eastern France to Lourdes seeking cures, hoping to find answers, believing and praying.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us and for the sick of the world.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Ten Things to Know About Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette
A little history of the apparition of Our Lady at Lourdes