Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes

Lourdes is one of the world's most visited pilgrimage sites and is located in southwest France near the Spanish border. The pilgrimage to Lourdes began with a series of 18 apparitions from 11 February to 16 July 1858.

The appearances

Of 11 February 1858 the fourteen- year-old Bernadette Soubirous at the grotto of Massabielle the river Gave du Pau to repeat the Mother of God have appeared. Bernadette was gathering wood, as the girl seemed a beautiful " lady " in the cave. The appearance was said to be dressed in white and blue girded. The Grotto of Massabielle was at that time a place burned to which, among other garbage and pigs were herded.

During one of these visions Bernadette put a source in free Massabielle whose water is still considered curative. Currently, annual pilgrimage to four to six million visitors to Lourdes and take thousands, firmly believing in a possible cure their illness, injury or age-related complaints annually of baths in the source water part. However, studies could not detect significant mineral composition of the source water, it is of drinking quality.

The ecclesiastical and secular superiors saw these phenomena, which ended on 16 July 1858, first with suspicion and tried to prevent the crowds. Only after some time also believed priests and bishops the girl. When the local priest Peyramale Bernadette asked her to ask the appearance of her name, and Bernadette brought the answer " I am the Immaculate Conception" - a theological term that has only recently been a dogma by the pope and Bernadette as the daughter of an impoverished miller barely know could - Peyramale was convinced of the authenticity of the apparition.

The sacred precinct

As the " sacred area " is referred to in Lourdes the area in which the grotto of Massabielle, various churches and the hospital for sick pilgrims are. From the grotto itself is a spring with the Lourdes water, which is said to miraculous cures. The cave itself is not decorated, in a niche on the top right is the famous Mary statue by the sculptor Joseph -Hugues Fabisch from the year 1864. Frenchman approached his portrayal of the " lady " in the description of St. Bernadette. At that point, Bernadette should be the undefiled Virgin Mary received also appeared.

Between the cave and the river an esplanade was built to facilitate pilgrims access to the grotto for recognition of the apparitions. Processions through the grotto with its stone altar are possible, but the source is covered with glass. Before the grotto are benches to allow pilgrims prayer. The appearance of the cave is probably no longer the like at the time of the apparitions of Bernadette.

To the cave around gradually come into a " sacred precinct " with several large churches, chapels and places to accommodate the growing crowds of pilgrims. The oldest building, which was built to commemorate the Marian apparitions, is the crypt consecrated in 1866, on which construction also Bernadette's father François was involved. The small church has powerful pillars on which the 1871 full dente, built in neo-Gothic style St. Mary's Basilica rests. Directly east connected to the sacred building, the Rosary Basilica is located with the gilded crown on the dome. From the Rosary Basilica leads the great Rosary Square, a processional space with the crowned statue of Mary, in the direction away in 1958 for the 100th anniversary of the Apparitions consecrated underground basilica that holds 25,000 people and Pope Pius X is consecrated.

In 1988, the Church of St. Bernadette ⊙ 43.098956-0.058137 was consecrated on opposite Gave -de- Pau - shore. This religious building is no longer part of the original, central pilgrimage district. It was built by the architect Jean -Paul Félix and holds about 5,000 visitors. Every autumn finds the General Assembly of the French bishops held in Bernadette 's Church. The Church reminds us of that place was at the Bernadette Siborious, when she had the 18th and last apparition. Previously, she was prevented by the police from entering the cave.

The place attracts millions of pilgrims since then, including many that were sick, the promise from the water, will be awarded the miracle healings, helps. It should have come in several thousand cases, spontaneous healing, of which recognized the Catholic Church so far 69 as miracle cures. At many places there are replicas of the grotto, called Lourdes grotto world.

Remembrance

On the phenomena of Remembrance reminds of Our Lady of Lourdes ( Mariae Virginis de Beatae Lapurdo ), the Catholic Church on February 11 celebrating (not optional memorial in the general Roman calendar ).

Miracle cures

The first regarded by the Roman Catholic Church as a miracle cure occurred when Catherine Latapie at night went to the source and dipped her partially paralyzed arm in the source. Bishop Laurence of Tarbes recognized on January 18, 1862, four years after the apparitions, the appearances on behalf of the church as genuine, what a marble plaque in the grotto recalls. This was due to the credible appearance Bernadette Soubirous ', the cure of several sick after drinking the water, and repeated reports of the phenomenon occurrence. Of the nearly 7,000 healings that have been reported in the medical office since its establishment, the Roman Catholic Church has acknowledged to this day as a miracle 69.

Healed were from all walks of every age group, according to the official website of people. The healed diseases include, inter alia, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, infectious diseases, bone cancer. Delizia Cirolli was healed of bone cancer, her healing is considered the 65th recognized by the Church as miraculous cures. Were not cured hereditary diseases.

Critical dealt with the subject of the miraculous cures at Lourdes, among other things, the report " Lourdes cures and Their medical assessment" from the year 1984. The author St. John Down Ling examined it for example the case of a 26 -year-old female patient, who in 1954 in Lourdes miraculous healing of the Budd -Chiari syndrome ( liver disease ) learned that in 1963, recognized by a church, medical board. The patient died in 1970 at the consequences of their newly erupted suffering.