Lourdes, - and St. Joseph's, Norton

		Pilgrims from every land flock to Lourdes, in what can only be described as an uninterrupted procession that has been continuing since 1858, when Our Blessed Lady first appeared to a young peasant girl, - Bernadette Soubirous. The never ending stream is made up of both believers, - who have come to place themselves in the hands of the Virgin, and non-believers, - who are invariably moved by the scenes of brotherly love that are enacted before their eyes. What stands out most is not the grandiosity, or number of participants, but rather the spirit of equality and the feeling of communion that pervades the whole.
		From "Lourdes", by Guilia Menotti.

On 11th February 1858, Bernadette Soubirous left the family home to go and collect firewood with her friends. Bernadette was only 14 years old, and at the time was living in dire poverty with the rest of her family in an abandoned jail. In the dark opening of the rock of Massabielle, Bernadette heard "the sound of the wind".   She then saw a light, which soon lit up the silhouette of a young girl "as young and small as herself".   The girl smiled at her and invited her to pray. The lady appeared to Bernadette 18 times between 11th February and 16th July 1858. On 25th March, the lady said "I am the Immaculate Conception".

The Grotto

The Grotto is the most mystic place in all of Lourdes. A sense of spirituality pervades as nowhere else, for it was here that Bernadette felt the tremulous breeze announcing the apparition of the Virgin, and here, rapt in prayer she had her holy visions.

His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, made a pilgrimage to Lourdes on 14-15 August 1983. "Our Mother of Christ, you who stand at the foot of your Son's Cross, be close to all those who are persecuted in the world today!   Let your maternal presence help them to bear their sufferings and to bring back victory through the Cross!"

The Basilica

The Basilica of the Rosary was completed in 1889, although it was not officially consecrated until 6th October 1901. The towers on either side of the dome were added in 1908. The statue of the Crowned Virgin was sculpted in 1877, and since then has been continuously adorned with bouquets of flowers left by pilgrims.

The Blessed Sacrament Procession

During the pilgrimage season, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession each afternoon.   The procession begins outside the new Chapel of Adoration, which is across the river from the Grotto.   Both the sick and the healthy process behind the canopy under which a bishop bears the monstrance.   When the canopy reaches those gathered in front of the Basilica of the Rosary, the blessing of the sick begins.   This procession symbolises the march of men, together with Christ, towards God the Father.

The Torchlight Procession

This is undoubtedly the most moving ceremony held in Lourdes.   Every evening, the candlelit procession winds its way from the Grotto, down the Esplanade, to the churchyard of the Basilica of the Rosary.   The procession is accompanied by the chants of the Credo or Salve Regina from the pilgrims, each of whom carries a candle.   The flickering light symbolises the believer's desire to be in harmony with Christ "the light of the world".