11th of February, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. On this day, we celebrate and honor the Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the first of which took place on 11 February 1858. Saint Bernadette saw on that day “uo petito damizelo,” a small maiden, of great beauty, dressed in pure white with a white veil and a blue belt fastened around her waist, with a Rosary of white beads and golden shining chain clasped in her hands, and two golden roses at her feet. This was the very first time of what would be a total of eighteen apparitions of Our Lady. More than a hundred fifty years later, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in its Shrine in Lourdes, France is one of the most visited Marian sites of the world, where countless miraculous healings and conversions continue to happen through Our Lady’s intercession.
Back in the year 1858, Saint Bernadette was a fourteen-year old peasant girl, of simple beauty, with a rounded face and dark eyes. Her family lived in poverty during the hard times felt all over France. The only education she ever received was the Catholic teaching from the Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction. This was instrumental in helping Saint Bernadette grow up to be good-natured despite being sickly and poor. As such, even when almost everyone did not believe at first her visions of the Blessed Mother, Saint Bernadette remained faithful, courageous, and persistent almost to a point of being stubborn, just to be able to do and follow Our Lady. At age twenty-two, she became a Sisters of Charity nun and died of illness at the young age of thirty-five. In keeping with the messages from the apparitions, Saint Bernadette indeed devoted her short but holy life in prayer, penance and service for God and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Apparitions at the Grotto of Massabielle in summary:
The First Apparition – Thursday, 11 February 1858
It was a Thursday on a week before Ash Wednesday- Saint Bernadette together with her sister Toinette and another friend Jeanne went out to gather wood. The sickly Bernadette could not keep up with her two companions who went ahead and crossed the stream. While she was standing by the bank, Bernadette heard a startling sound like that of a storm. She felt frightened and turned her gaze at the Grotto. She saw a golden-colored cloud appear and the Blessed Mother whom she described as a Lady, too inexplicably beautiful, came forth, smiling at her, signaling at her to come closer, like a mother does to her child. Bernadette knelt before the Lady as she took out her Rosary to pray. But she was unable to do so and seemed paralyzed. Only after Our Lady made the sign of the cross was she able to do so as well. After finishing reciting the Rosary, the Beautiful Lady returned inside the Grotto.
The Second Apparition – Sunday, February 14, 1858
With her mother’s approval, Bernadette was able to return to the grotto on this day, again with Toinette and Jeanne. As advised by elders, she had carried with her some Holy Water, which she poured on the ground as she had a vision of Our Lady. Bernadette noticed that the Beautiful Lady looked even pleased by such act.
The Third Apparition – Thursday, February 18, 1858
In this day’s vision of Bernadette, Our Lady spoke of a request to have her come to the grotto for the next fifteen days. With no explicit reason given for such request, Our Lady further told Bernadette that she did not promise to make her happy in this life, but in the next, as in Heaven.
The Fourth Apparition – Friday, February 19, 1858
Bernadette indeed came back to the grotto the next day, accompanied by her aunt and her mother. Those present during the vision noticed how Bernadette’s face illuminated as she prayed the Holy Rosary.
The Fifth Apparition – Saturday, February 20, 1858
For this day, our Blessed Mother taught Bernadette a personal prayer, which she prayed everyday for the rest of her life. The young girl never revealed the prayer to anyone, but as instructed by Our Lady, she always brought a blessed candle with her.
The Sixth Apparition – Sunday, February 21, 1858
Our Lady spoke of an important message to Bernadette, which was to “pray for sinners.” Present that day were some prominent people of their place such as a physician who found everything about Bernadette to be normal despite her trancelike state.
The Seventh Apparition – Tuesday, February 23, 1858
Bernadette’s vision of Our Lady for this day lasted for about an hour, with about two hundred people present. According to the saint, Our Lady entrusted to her three secrets, though she never revealed any of them.
The Eighth Apparition – Wednesday, February 24, 1858
The number of crowd had doubled on this day and Bernadette addressed them by saying three times, “Penitence! Penitence! Penitence!”
The Ninth Apparition – Thursday, February 25, 1858
The Grotto at Lourdes has also been popularly known for the steady stream of cold water spring, which devotees believe to be miraculous. It was in this apparition that Our Lady instructed Bernadette to “drink from the fountain and bathe in it.” However, there was no fountain in Massabielle. Even though she was confused, Bernadette had done as told and soon found a spring formed on the ground. Skeptics argued that such body of water was there all along. But still, they could not deny that it was Bernadette who discovered it upon the command of the Beautiful Lady in an apparition.
The Tenth Apparition – Saturday, February 27, 1858
Our Blessed Mother asked Bernadette to kiss the ground on behalf of sinners. As always, the saint had humbly obliged and the crowd followed her example.
The Eleventh Apparition – Sunday, February 28, 1858
The message on this apparition was for the clergy- Our Lady asked Bernadette to tell them to build a chapel at the Grotto.
The Twelfth Apparition – Monday, March 1, 1858
Bernadette prayed the Holy Rosary using another person’s rosary. Our Lady knew of it and commented about it.
The Thirteenth Apparition – Tuesday, March 2, 1858
The Blessed Mother was silent, except for the Gloria’s, as Bernadette prayed the Holy Rosary.
The Fourteenth Apparition – Wednesday, March 3, 1858
Once again, Our Lady spoke about wanting the clergy to build a chapel. Aside from this, she wanted the people to come to the chapel in processional form. Although terrified of the parish priest, Bernadette relayed to him the messages. The priest politely dismissed the idea and asked Bernadette to tell the Beautiful Lady that if she wanted a chapel, then she must reveal her name.
The Fifteenth Apparition – Thursday, March 4, 1858
This is the last of the fifteen days, which Bernadette promised to Our Lady that she would visit the Grotto. At this point, almost everyone in France was aware of it and there were about twenty thousand people who went there hoping they could have a glimpse of the apparition or hear the same words. But Bernadette realized that it would not be the last day as the Blessed Mother had not have any farewell message.
The Sixteenth Apparition – Thursday, March 25, 1858
This apparition, happening on the Feast of the Annunciation, was very significant. It was when Our Lady revealed to Bernadette, “Que soy era Immaculado Conception,” “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
The Seventeenth Apparition – Wednesday, April 7, 1858
Bernadette always brought a candle with her at the Grotto since the first time she was instructed by Our Lady. During the apparition, she unconsciously placed her hand over the flame and the people there witnessed the flame burn through her fingers. But Bernadette just kept on praying without feeling any pain. The Prefect, however, intervened that day, and ordered the Grotto closed.
The Eighteenth Apparition – Friday, July 16, 1858
The Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette for the last time in this apparition. It was the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and despite the barricade surrounding the Grotto, Bernadette, as she knelt on the grass with her aunt, was blessed with the presence of Our Lady.
The image of Our Lady of Lourdes has been replicated and venerated all over the world. In particular, the Grotto is commonly a part of garden landscapes in Catholic homes, including the small Grotto right in my family’s very own home.
But more than the imagery, the Lourdes Grotto is seen by the devotees as a symbol of the unparalleled love, compassion, and aid of the Blessed Virgin Mary for all of us who ask for her intercession and seek refuge in her Immaculate Heart, especially those who are faced with difficulties and trials.
As Saint Pope John Paul II said, for the believers, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is “a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering.” That is why on 11th February 1993, the Holy Pontiff declared the Virgin of Lourdes’ Feast as a time for World Day of the Sick. He believes that those who suffer, particularly from sickness, share in the suffering, redemption and salvation of Christ.
If we think about it, the Blessed Mother’s Feast in Lourdes is a fitting time to remember and pray for the ill because there is no being that truly understands what pain and suffering is other than Our Lady who shared in the Passion of her Son Jesus and in His glory.
The indescribable beauty of the Virgin Mary that Saint Bernadette gazed upon was the beauty of Christ’s Mother who is beautiful in her Immaculate Conception, her Virginal birth, up to her Assumption and Coronation in Heaven.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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