Significance of Lourdes

The town of Lourdes where Bernadette had 18 apparitions of Mary in 1858 is significant to Christians. Apparition meaning a remarkable or unexpected appearance and the appearances of Mary to Bernadette are Marian Apparitions which are remarkable, unexpected appearances of Mary. During the 9th apparition where Mary had told Bernadette to scratch loose gravel of the ground to find that their was a spring beneath the floor. She was asked to drink from it and wash her face in it. This spring water is believed to bring miraculous healing from God which is why many pilgrims visit this site. These visions Bernadette had were declared authentic by Pope Pius IX in 1862 and the respect of Mary our Lady of Lourdes was authorised. This is a special place of meeting between God and people. 

The main reason Mary visited Bernadette in the first place is to seek a healing spring which was underneath the ground. Nobody had known that such a thing existed right beneath the feet of those who stood in the Grotto. Also to be reminded that the Grotto was a dirty place which gives us the sense that Jesus and Mary will always give us guidance and support even if we are 'unclean' and if we are sinners. He will always be divine, gracious, loving and forgiving because he is the son of God. Although he is son of God he acts as if he is a servant to others, he's the one who sacrificed his life for everyone's sake, for the forgiveness of sins.

These people that take a pilgrimage which is a journey of faith, visit Lourdes so that they can strengthen their faith and because they believe in the miraculous events that have occurred in the place of Lourdes. The strengthening of faith means that the bond between you and God is stronger. This pilgrimage site, like all have a spiritual connection between God and the person. 








Another reason of Lourdes' significance to Christians is because during the apparitions words and actions are exchanged between the Virgin Mary and Bernadette between the 11th and 18th apparition at the Grotto. This Grotto at that time was a dirty hidden, damp and cold place. This place was referred as the ''pigs shelter'' because it was here where the feeding of pigs took place. But out of all possible areas the Virgin Mary appeared here, with white clothing, the colour white representing purity, the sign of love from God. The contrast between the Virgin Mary, ''the Immaculate Conception'' and the Grotto remind us of he Gospel: the fulfilment of goodness and purity of God and the poverty of the human person. Jesus goes to sit at the table of sinners, '' because he came to search out that which was lost.