Among the many titles of Mary, blessed Mother of Jesus, one of the most famous ones is “Our Lady of Lourdes”, the blessed Virgin who appeared to the novice St. Bernadette Soubirous, in 1858, in France, more precisely in a small town called Lourdes. According to the story, the first Marian apparition in Lourdes took place on 11 February 1858 and the girl who attended it, Saint Bernadette, was only 14 at that time.
Did you know that this Holy Virgin is considered one of the Holy Patron Saint for sick people?
Discover more about Our Lady of Lourdes, the story behind Her apparitions and how to pray to Her for your loved ones who are suffering from diseases.
Pilgrims visiting the Our Lady of Lourdes shrine, France.
The Marian Apparitions in Lourdes
On 11 February 1858, while she was gathering firewood with her sister and a friend, the young girl Bernadette Soubirous attended the first Marian apparition in the cave of Massabielle, near the small town of Lourdes. Similar apparition of the white-dressed Lady took place on 18 different occasions during the same year, until the climax of the revelation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception finally took place.
After these apparitions which were reported by the young Bernadette, a few years later, in 1862, the local Bishop endorsed the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes.
After that, in 1876, Pope Pius IX officially granted these apparitions with a pontifical decree of canonical coronation to the image of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Almost one century later, Bernadette Soubirous was canonized as a Catholic Saint, in 1933 and since then a large Marian cult of devotion has developed in the small town, right after that a large shrine was built.
This sanctuary is today one of the most famous and visited Marian shrines in the world where every year millions of pilgrims go to pay homage to the Blessed Virgin.
If you want to relive those miraculous Marian apparitions, bring home the Our Lady of Lourdes statue, in hand-painted resin. This statue depicts one of the Marian apparitions of the Holy Virgin inside the cave of Massabielle to St. Bernadette.
The Patron Saint of the Sick
In addition to the city of Lourdes and France, Our Lady of Lourdes is also considered the patron saint of the sick. This cult began when thousands of pilgrims followed the instruction of Our Lady of Lourdes to “drink at the spring and wash in it”.
Even if the Catholic Church never formally encouraged this cult, Lourdes’ water became a focus of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In fact, many faithful claimed to have been cured by drinking the water of Lourdes.
Many miraculous healing of devoted faithful were associated with Our Lady of Lourdes over the years. For this reason, She was later considered the Patroness of the sick, the Virgin to turn to for miraculous cures if afflicted with incurable diseases.
Are you praying for someone who is sick and you want to help him/her to struggle with his/her battle?
Let Our Lady of Lourdes protect your loved one in need, by giving him/her a special Catholic gift, symbol of faith and trust: the religious medal of Our Lady of Lourdes.
PS: at your request, we can engrave the back of the medal with the name of the person who is going to receive this miraculous gift.
A prayer for the sick to Our Lady of Lourdes
If you are looking for a prayer for the sick, there is nothing better than recite the prayer inscribed within the chapel of the Lourdes shrine, which reads:
Ever Immaculate Virgin Mother of Mercy, Health of the sick, refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings; look with mercy on me. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure for their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.
I come, therefore, with complete confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my requests. Through gratitude for your favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that I may one day share your glory.
Amen.
Need a beautiful rosary to recite your prayers to Our Lady of Lourdes?
Check out the complete collection of our handmade rosaries, and request the blessing from Pope Francis.
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