Marian Sanctuary of Lourdes: The miraculous rush of water
The Marian sanctuary of Lourdes, in France, welcomes, day after day, pilgrims from the four corners of the globe. In front of the grotto, after their devotions, the faithful storm the fountains fed by the spring where the Virgin appeared to Bernadette. Miraculous or not, this water attracts crowds eager to drink from it.
LOURDES – The water source springing from the cave where the Virgin Mary appeared is one of the main gathering points for pilgrims. Beyond the local economy, mainly driven by the sale of objects of piety, t-shirts bearing the image of the Holy Virgin, bottles of water and candles, Lourdes (France) is known worldwide for this water considered miraculous. The history of this source dates back to the famous Marian apparitions: the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous. During the 9th apparition, the young woman, devoted and obedient, followed the instructions of the Immaculate Conception. She goes to the left side of the cave and begins digging in the earth. Water then gushes out of the ground. Following the message transmitted by the Virgin, Bernadette drinks water from the palm of her hand, sprinkles herself with it and washes her face. Since this event, more than 7,300 healings have been registered with the Lourdes medical office, 70 of which have been officially recognized as miracles by the Church. Among them is the case of Sister Bernadette Moriau, cured in 2018. Suffering from multi-root damage to the lumbar and sacral roots (commonly called cauda equina syndrome), she regained her health after immersion in the pools of the sanctuary during a pilgrimage.
Whether it heals or not, the water from the grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary continues to attract thousands of faithful who come to drink from the spring every year. During the pilgrimage time, whatever the time, the place is always full. At the fountains fed by the cave’s spring, pilgrims flock, cans in hand, to obtain this precious liquid. Martine, a French woman, came to get this water for her sick child. In the process, she queues up with her containers which she has not left since she passed through the Saint-Joseph door of the Marian Sanctuary of Lourdes. “My son suffered serious trauma after a traffic accident. Obviously, the hospital saved his life, but I am here so that he can regain his former motor skills,” she confides. In the hope of regaining health, pilgrims cross entire countries to ask for the grace of healing, for themselves or for their loved ones. Lourdes water thus remains an inexhaustible source of hope.
In the long queue, Léo Diouf is getting impatient. A 5 liter container in hand, he quietly waits his turn. “When I announced to those around me that I was going on a pilgrimage, the only thing everyone asked me was this water. Whatever the efforts, I will bring it back to them, because it performs miracles, just like the Virgin Mary who appeared here,” he says, with a smile on his lips.
Beside him, a woman of Chinese origin is also waiting. Despite the language barrier, his desire to get water from the spring is crystal clear. During an exchange as complex as it is friendly, she points to the fountain, then places her hand on her chest, showing her joy at being able to access this water, just like all the others.
William is of English origin. With his little family, he queues to take his turn drawing water from the spring. Standing at six feet tall, this regular visitor holds the hand of his daughter, who at times slips between the faithful with the carefree attitude of her age. This is the third time that the family has visited the site, and the water of Lourdes remains a mystery for them. “I keep this water at home as a precious medicine. Miraculous or not, it protects us,” says William. Senegalese pilgrims are not left out in this race to fill bottles either.
Marie Bernadette SENE (Special Envoy)
