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. Millions of visitors come to
Lourdes each year in the hope of being cured. The one of the reasons for pilgrims
to go to Lourdes, is to bathe in the spring water, to be fully immersed into
the bath and drink the water for cleansing and healing. The bath is a symbol of
baptism and also strengthening the faith of the pilgrims.
The history began on 11th February 1858, as Bernadette
Soubirous, a 14-year-old local girl, went out with her sister Toinette,
and a friend Jeanne, to fetch firewood near the local grotto. Suddenly, a lady appeared to her in a
brilliant white dress tied with a blue ribbon; her body was covered with a long
white veil that fell to her feet. This lady later identified herself as
"the Immaculate Conception" which is an
attribute of Santa Maria.
Santa Maria then appeared 18 times to
Bernadette, and on 25th February She asked the girl to dig up a
spring of water where none had been found before. Santa Maria told her “Go and
drink at the Spring and wash yourself there”. Even though this area was muddy, the next day,
the ground flowed with clear water. Almost immediately cures were reported from
drinking the water, and since then many people were cured by applying or
drinking the water. The Spring water of Lourdes became popular because of the
miracles associated with it.
What is particularly striking to the
casual visitor is the number of sick and disabled people present in Lourdes.
All those traumatised by life may find a certain degree of comfort in Lourdes.
Officially, 80,000 sick and disabled people from many countries come to Lourdes
each year. Despite their wounds or disabilities, they feel they are in a haven
of peace and joy.
THE END
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As a pilgrim, we visit as part of our devotion to Our Lady of Loudes.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. It’s always so nice to read of stories of faith.
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