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What is the pilgrimage of Lourdes best known for?
Apparitions and pilgrimages Lourdes has become a major place of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and of miraculous healings. The 150th Jubilee of the first apparition took place on 11 February 2008 with an outdoor Mass attended by approximately 45,000 pilgrims.
Why do Catholic go on pilgrimage?
Roman Catholics undertake the pilgrimage to Rome in order to be close to the centre of their faith. It is important to the pilgrim to be close to the Pope, his message and to see and worship at the site which marks the death of the first Pope, Saint Peter.
What is the history of Lourdes?
Sanctuary of our Lady of Lourdes The history of the place lies in the fact that in 1858 a 14-year old girl named Bernadette Soubirous saw apparitions of Virgin Mary who introduced self as Immaculate Conception. The grotto is a hot spot for pilgrims who come to take a dip in the freezing pool or light a candle.
What is the purpose of pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is a sacred journey, undertaken for a spiritual purpose. Pilgrims are different from tourists: they travel for spiritual reasons, not just to relax or for fun. Pilgrimage is a search for meaning, purpose, values or truth (and in this sense, like life).
How was Lourdes created?
In that year, from February 11 to July 16, Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old girl, had numerous visions of the Virgin Mary in the nearby Massabielle grotto, on the left bank of the stream. The visions were declared authentic by Pope Pius IX in 1862, and veneration of Mary as Our Lady of Lourdes was authorized.
Why is Lourdes considered a special place to visit?
Lourdes is considered a special place to visit because prayers and services are believed to bring real blessings to the pilgrim. 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.
What is the history of the Lourdes pilgrimage?
Apparitions of Lourdes got their official recognition in the year 1862, and then the first local pilgrimages got organized. But Lourdes becomes much more international in the twentieth century. After the devastating World War 2, the world needs reconciliation, needs peace and needs unity.
What happened at Our Lady of Lourdes?
Christian pilgrims now visit and pray in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and worship at the grotto where the vision is said to have taken place. Pilgrims also take part in a Torchlight Marian Procession which takes place every evening before a service of mass takes place in the grotto.
What’s it like to visit Lourdes as an atheist?
Although Lourdes’ spiritual atmosphere is tainted by numerous shops selling tacky religious trinkets (think framed, velvet Jesus art and pink plastic rosaries), even an atheist could appreciate the splendor of the enormous Basilica of the Rosary.