Every year on 11 February, Catholics around the world celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. This date marks the anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, an event that profoundly transformed Lourdes and made it one of the world's greatest places of Marian pilgrimage. This festival is an occasion for prayer, meditation and spiritual renewal for the faithful.
The Origin of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
The feast of 11 February has its origins in the Marian apparitions that took place in the grotto of Massabielle, in Lourdes. Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old girl, reported seeing a "beautiful Lady" dressed in white and wearing a blue sash, with a yellow rose on each foot. These apparitions were repeated eighteen times between 11 February and 16 July 1858.
In the 16th apparition, on 25 March 1858, the Virgin presented herself to Bernadette, saying, "I am the Immaculate Conception." This statement confirmed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854. In 1891, Pope Leo XIII instituted the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which was subsequently incorporated into the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar.
Liturgical Celebrations and Rites
The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated solemnly at Lourdes and in many parishes around the world. In Lourdes, the festivities often begin the day before with prayer vigils and torchlight processions. On 11 February, a solemn Mass is celebrated at the Basilica of Saint Pius X or the Basilica of the Rosary, bringing together thousands of pilgrims, priests and bishops.
A central moment of the day is the Eucharistic procession and the blessing of the sick, as Our Lady of Lourdes is also associated with miraculous cures. Many pilgrims come especially to ask for intercession for their health or that of their loved ones. The grotto at Massabielle remains a place of intense meditation where the faithful pray, light candles and drink the water from the spring revealed by the Virgin to Bernadette.
The Feast and the Sick: World Sick Day
Since 1993, 11 February has also been World Sick Day, instituted by Pope John Paul II. This choice of date underlines the special link between Lourdes and the suffering. Many special Masses and blessings are held in hospitals and shrines to pay special attention to the sick and those who care for them.
The Impact of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
The feast of 11 February is much more than a simple religious commemoration: it is a reminder of the importance of faith, compassion and prayer in the lives of believers. Every year, it attracts millions of pilgrims to Lourdes, who come seeking spiritual comfort, physical healing or simply a moment of inner peace.
For many Catholics, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is an opportunity to renew their faith and draw closer to God through the example of the Virgin Mary. It remains a symbol of hope and mercy, a call to prayer and love for the weakest and suffering.
In conclusion, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes perpetuates the message of Lourdes: a message of faith, hope and charity, which continues to touch the hearts of millions of people around the world.
