Lourdes

At Massabielle Grotto, on February 11th, 1858, a “little lady” appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. Later that year, on March 25th, the vision Bernadette called “aquerò” –meaning “that” in the local dialect– revealed her name, saying, “I am the Immaculate Conception”. In the meantime, the remarkable Bernadette –who, although just a “sickly wretch” of a girl, was to be canonised in 1933– received Our Lady’s message. Today, the living reality of this message is experienced each year by the millions of pilgrims who come “in procession” to Lourdes –the Virgin Mary’s own town and the universal capital of faith and prayer.