My journey took me to Lourdes, France where Bernadette Soubirous first saw the Virgin Mary on 18 occasions. Roman Catholics make their pilgrimages to Lourdes because of its miraculous healing.
Due to the notoriety of Lourdes, two movies were made: Lourdes and The Song Of Bernadette. Millions of people make the pilgrimages to Lourdes each year to not only visit Our Lady of Lourdes in the Grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared but to drink the holy water. Many people bring glass and plastic gallon containers to fill with the holy water to take home and bathe in its healing powers.
After leaving the Grotto you see candles in all sizes and shapes that people have kept lit in order to acknowledge those that have past but more so to pray for those who are sick and need the help of a higher power. There are several houses of prayer where those who want to either be guided prayer through prayer or have a quiet place to pray in silence.
Walking around Lourdes you see many shops selling religious items from picture cards to beaded bracelets to large statues and candles. This is a place where the religious come to worship along with wanting to take home items of remembrance and prayer. This is a holy city where it appears that everyone walks to where ever they are going.
The nightly candlelight vigil is an awesome experience, it includes those who are sick and want to be healed along with those who are looking to be blessed with good health. The procession sings “Ave, Ave, Ave Maria: the Lourdes hymn” while winding around the grounds in order to make their way to the front of the church.
If you are planning on a trip to Europe and want to have a religious experience, find a tour that includes Lourdes.
Sandy Moniz Lourdes, Lourdes, Sandy Moniz, Sandy Moniz Traveler Author Imagineer
