The PCUSA Pilgrim Pastor

These medallions marked a path on the ground that takes you to all of the significant places in Bernadette’s life.

This is where Bernadette grew up as a child. Her bedroom is near the window because after contracting cholera she suffered from asthma the rest of her life.

This is the font where Bernadette was baptized and the plaque behind it tells her story in pictures.

Her father was a miller and when he lost the mill they were penniless. The entire 6 person family had to live in this former prison cell because it was the only shelter they could find. This is where Bernadette lived at the age of 14 when she had her visions.

On February 11, 1858 while gathering firewood with her sister by a stream, she stayed behind while her sister went ahead and Bernadette saw a vision in this grotto, which means cave. She had a total of 18 visions in a 3 week period.

Bernadette had long conversations with the Virgin Mary. At first her parents forbid her to go back thinking she was making it up.

The town was divided whether or not they believed her with some demanding she be put in a mental institution. But day after day she returned to the cave and recorded the words the vision spoke to her. This is the door Bernadette went through to get to this place where she shared her visions with the powers of the church and city.

The first important instruction Bernadette heard from Mary was, “Go and drink at the spring and wash yourself in its waters.” Ever since, people have come here to do just that, drink and wash.

So fountains have been set up for people to drink and wash. People come from all over the world to taste this water that is said to have miraculously healed many. In fact, large containers are sold so people can take water back home with them. 70 miracles have been verified by the Catholic Church from here and hundreds more have been reported.

Before Covid, there were built in baths where you could go to be immersed. While they don’t do that anymore, you can still enter that area individually and nuns will give you a moment to pray and then pour water into your cupped hands three times. Once to wash your hands. Once to wash your face. And once to drink. Then they prayed for you.

All languages were spoken so I was able to participate in this ritual in English. It was very moving. No pictures were allowed but this is the outside of this place.

The second quote from Mary was, “Go and tell the priests to have a chapel built here..I want people to come here in Procession.” Eventually the priests did both of these things. In fact they built several chapels called the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Lourdes literally right on top of the grotto.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary is the primary cathedral at the base of the Sanctuary. Both outside and inside is exquisite.

This outside mosaic is Jesus’ baptism which I thought was stunning.

When you climb the steps to the top of it, you not only get a beautiful view of the plaza area, but you are now ready to go into the second basilica.

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is also known as the upper church in the Sanctuary. It holds some of the relics of St. Bernadette and the chapel where Bernadette herself used to worship.

The final church is the Underground Basilica of St. Pius X. This was pretty cool as it’s over a football field long and as the name implies, it is underground.

It’s one of the largest places of worship in the world holding 25,000 pilgrims.

As for processions, the town of Lourdes still process every evening at 9:00. For one hour hundreds of people with candles walk, pray, sing, and worship as they proceed from the grotto to the Basilica. It was a beautiful sight.

I went to the well-known Halles marketplace for lunch which had everything you could imagine and then some. I settled for a chicken cordon bleu while being entertained by these guitarists.

Lourdes in also known as the gateway to the Pyrenees Mountains so I took my picnic lunch up the funicular to the top of the mountains for some peaceful, gorgeous views.

One last thing, from the monastery where I was staying, I received a special pass and key that allowed me to reach the grotto and basilica.

I went through the gardens of the monastery.

Through a locked door.

Down a narrow path

And through a tunnel to go through the back way to the grotto. What fun, though at 10:00 at night it was a little mysterious.

I used this secret passageway a few times and it never got boring. After a very long day it was time to rest and get ready to say goodbye to Lourdes tomorrow.