What does the Church think about Lourdes and what do I expect to learn?

To further the effectiveness of my travel to Lourdes I have researched what Lourdes is to the Church. To the Church, Lourdes is a Marian Apparition Site. Marian Apparition Sites are important to the Church as they are places in which Mary has appeared to a person and connected with them.

Lourdes is a place of healing because of Saint Bernadette. Saint Bernadette found a spring in the water and the spring was believed to hold special healing powers. It is also a place where we can connect and pray to Mary to heal, strengthen or protect other people.

The Catholic Church believes the Apparition to be important because they have built a place of worship at the sighting of the Marian Apparition, near the Grotto. This allows visitors to connect fully with their religion and faith. Pilgrims can join with fellow pilgrims and strengthen their faith during their visit.

When I travel to the site I hope to learn how to further connect with Mary and the Church. By being more connected with Mary and the Church, I am able to spread the Good News. Travelling to Lourdes, I expect fully appreciate the history of, not only the site, but my faith.

The Rosary Basilica, which is the Church that was built
near the Grotto where the Apparition was seen.

What is a 'Marian Apparition' and what is it it's relationship to pilgrims?

Well, a 'Marian Apparition' is an event in which someone has claimed that the Virgin Mary has appeared to them in a ghost type form or in person form. The place that the apparition was seen at is therefore called a 'Marian Apparition Site'.

Other places where Marian Apparitions (apart from Lourdes) have appeared are: Guadalupe in Mexico, Paris in France, La Salette in France, Knock in Ireland, Fatima in Portugal, Beauraing in Belgium and Banneux in Belgium. However these Marian Apparition are the only places where they have been approved by the Catholic Church.

I choose to take a pilgrimage to Lourdes so I can further increase my knowledge and connection with Mary. Also to hopefully connect with other pilgrims who come to Lourdes for a similar reason to me. These include gain an appreciation of the Mother Mary, pray with fellow believers and enjoy the scenery of the Grotto.

Location of Lourdes

Why is Lourdes is important us to Christians?

Before I travel to Lourdes I want to find out why it is so important and it's significance to Christians. This is what I have found out about it and my opinions. Lourdes is an important place for us Christians because it is a location where a Marian Apparition was spotted by Saint Bernadette Soubirous.

Staue of Mary at the Grotto where St
Bernadette saw the Apparition

The Marian Apparition was spotted on the 11th of February, 1854. It was reported that Saint Bernadette was praying at a Grotto and was about to leave then she suddenly saw a golden cloud and a young lady. Once she saw this she immediately got on her knees and prayed. This spotting was the begging of a total of 18 sighting of the Marian Apparition.

Some key dates during the period of the sightings are: February 25 and March 25, 1958. On the 25th of February there was a crowd at the Grotto to see if the apparitions were true and as Bernadette was praying she fell into a trance and began crawling around and digging up muddy water and began to smear it on her face. She told the people that she was told to 'drink and wash herself in it'. That day, at night some of the onlookers dug deeper into the hole and found an underground spring. It is said that the spring's water has healing powers.  On March 25th Bernadette was given the identity of the apparition to be the Immaculate Conception.

I think that this pilgrimage site is very important. It comes to be as a place of healing and a place where we can speak with Mary. It is a place where we can further our knowledge with the church and its teachings. It is also a place where I can gain more interest and understanding of the Catholic Faith. This is why I intend to travel to Lourdes.