The history of the apparitions after 11 February 1858

article published on 24/03/2026 in the category : Our Lady of Lourdes

A mysterious encounter continues

After the first apparition on 11 February 1858 in Lourdes, Bernadette Soubirous felt an inner calling. Despite her parents' prohibitions and the doubts of the locals, she returned to the grotto of Massabielle.

On 14 February, the "beautiful lady" appeared again. This time, Bernadette sprinkled her with holy water to make sure she was not seeing things. The Lady smiles. The peace she feels confirms that she is not being deceived. Gradually, the news spreads. The locals begin to accompany Bernadette to the grotto. Some come out of curiosity, others out of faith.

A message of prayer and conversion

As the apparitions continue, the message becomes clearer. The Lady asks for prayer, penance and the conversion of sinners. She invites people to come in procession and build a chapel on this spot. The Lady asked Bernadette to scrape the ground and drink from the spring. At first muddy and incomprehensible, the water became clear. This spring still flows today and is associated with many healings. These gestures surprised and shocked some witnesses. Bernadette was mocked. Yet she remained faithful to what she had seen and heard.

"I am the Immaculate Conception"

On 25 March 1858, during the sixteenth apparition, the Lady finally revealed her name: "I am the Immaculate Conception". This statement was theologically significant. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception had been proclaimed only four years earlier. Bernadette, who had little education, repeated the phrase without immediately understanding its meaning. For many, this reinforced the credibility of her testimony. The last apparition took place on 16 July 1858. On that day, Bernadette gazed upon the Lady one last time, from a distance, from the other side of the Gave River. A place that became a global sanctuary After these 18 apparitions, Lourdes gradually became a major pilgrimage site. The Church officially recognised the apparitions in 1862. Today, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes welcomes millions of pilgrims every year. Many come to confide their sufferings, ask for healing or simply pray in the silence of the grotto.

The apparitions after 11 February are not just historical events. They carry a message that is still relevant today: return to the essentials, pray with confidence and believe that God acts in simplicity.