Why is the grotto in Lourdes so famous?
Lourdes is considered a special place to visit because prayers and services are believed to bring real blessings to the pilgrim. Pilgrims may visit to be cleansed of their sins and to be cured of their illnesses. It is believed that spring water from the grotto can heal people if they are sick.
What is the history behind Lourdes?
History. The shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, in France, began in the 19th century AD. In 1858 from 11 February to 16 July, a 14-year-old peasant girl, called Bernadette Soubirous, saw a vision of the Virgin Mary while playing in the stream with her sister and friend.
What happens at the grotto in Lourdes?
The Massabielle Grotto is the very place where the apparitions occurred, and within it is the spring that Bernadette discovered. To the right of the Grotto are the Taps where you can drink Lourdes water. Those who wish to can also go to the Sanctuary Baths and perform the water gesture.
What is the Grotto of Lourdes?
The Grotto is the site of the extraordinary events which took place in 1858. The Grotto of the apparitions is the heart of the Sanctuary. The spring and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes within it are the centre of attention of all the pilgrims. The Grotto, by itself, says much about the Message of Lourdes.
Did Bernadette Soubirous see the Lourdes apparitions?
Between February 11 th and July 16 th 1858, Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl, experienced 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the nearby Massabielle grotto. During the 9th vision, an underground spring was revealed. The Holy See currently recognizes 70 official miracles attributable to Lourdes.
When did the first pilgrimage to Lourdes begin?
After the official recognition of the Apparitions by the Church in 1862, the first local pilgrimages were organized. The reputation of Lourdes assumed an international dimension in the first years of the XXth century.
What happened at Lourdes in the 8th century?
However, during the 8th century, Lourdes and its fortress became the focus of skirmishes between Mirat, the Muslim local leader, and Charlemagne, King of the Franks. Charlemagne had been laying siege to Mirat in the fortress for some time, but the Moor had so far refused to surrender.