Catholic Saint
St. Our Lady of Lourdes
“The apparitions of the Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France.”
- Feast Day:
- February 11
- Patron Saint of:
- the sick, the physically challenged
- Lived:
- France
Biography
Our Lady of Lourdes is the title given to the Virgin Mary following a series of apparitions reported in 1858 near the town of Lourdes, in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. Unlike most figures venerated as saints, Our Lady of Lourdes is not a single historical person but a devotional name for Mary as she appeared during these events. The title is observed liturgically on February 11 and is recognized widely across the Catholic Church, particularly in France and among those devoted to the sick.
The apparitions occurred between February 11 and July 16, 1858, when a 14-year-old girl named Bernadette Soubirous reported seeing a young woman dressed in white in the grotto of Massabielle, on the banks of the Gave de Pau river. The figure appeared to Bernadette a total of 18 times. During one of the later apparitions, when asked her name, the woman replied, "I am the Immaculate Conception," a phrase that had been formally defined as Catholic dogma only four years earlier. Mary also instructed Bernadette to pray and do penance for the conversion of sinners, and told her to drink from and wash in a spring that became visible in the grotto.
The healing spring that emerged at the grotto quickly drew attention, and Lourdes grew into one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world. The Catholic Church has officially recognized a number of miracles associated with the waters of Lourdes, though the total number of claimed healings is far higher and many are not officially verified. Pilgrims have traveled to Lourdes for over 160 years, particularly the sick and disabled, and the town has developed an extensive infrastructure of hospices and pilgrimage accommodations to serve them. The message of Lourdes, emphasizing prayer, penance, and care for the suffering, remains central to its spiritual identity.
Our Lady of Lourdes is venerated as a patron of the sick and of those with physical disabilities or illnesses, a patronage that reflects the apparitions' close association with healing. The original grotto at Massabielle, including the spring and the site of the apparitions, has been preserved, and the Church has formally approved devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. Bernadette Soubirous was later canonized as a saint in 1933, and her visions remain the foundation of the devotion. The message Mary gave to Bernadette, one of conversion, humility, and trust in God, continues to draw millions of pilgrims and visitors each year.
Quotes from St. Our Lady of Lourdes
“I cannot promise you happiness in this life, but I can promise you happiness in the next.”
“Go to the spring and drink from it.”
“I am the Immaculate Conception.”
Prayer to St. Our Lady of Lourdes
I cannot promise you happiness in this life, but I can promise you happiness in the next.
Did You Know?
The spring discovered at Lourdes is believed by many to have healing properties, leading to countless miraculous recoveries.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Our Lady of Lourdes?
- Our Lady of Lourdes is a title for the Virgin Mary based on a series of 18 apparitions she is believed to have made to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 near Lourdes, France. It is observed as a Marian feast in the Catholic Church.
- When is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes?
- The feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes is February 11, the anniversary of the first apparition in 1858.
- What is Our Lady of Lourdes the patron of?
- She is venerated as a patron of the sick and of those who are physically challenged or ill, reflecting Lourdes's long association with healing pilgrimage.
- What did Our Lady of Lourdes say during the apparitions?
- She identified herself as "the Immaculate Conception," called for prayer and penance for sinners, and instructed Bernadette to drink from and wash in a spring that appeared in the grotto.
- Why is Lourdes a pilgrimage site?
- Lourdes became a major pilgrimage site after the reported apparitions and the discovery of a spring in the grotto, which many pilgrims associate with miraculous healings. The Church has officially recognized a number of these healings over the years.
- What happened to Bernadette Soubirous after the apparitions?
- Bernadette lived the rest of her life as a nun with the Sisters of Charity of Nevers and was canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1933.
Saints with Similar Spiritual Gifts
St. Cosmas
“St. Cosmas is known as a patron saint of physicians and surgeons.”
St. Guardian Angels
“Saints associated with the guardianship and protection of individuals by angels.”
St. Robert of Newminster
“He is known for his role in the founding of the Cistercian order in the 12th century.”
St. Camillus de Lellis
“St. Camillus de Lellis founded the Order of Servants of the Sick, revolutionizing hospital care.”