Our Lady of Lourdes

In 1848, 14-year old peasant girl Bernadette Soubiros saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the cave of Massabielle, France while she was out gathering firewood. The lady said, ‘Que soy Immaculada Concepcion’ (I am the Immaculate Conception) and asked that a chapel be built at the spot. Bernadette saw the lady several times, and dug a spring at a spot in the cave where the lady showed her. Its waters turned out to have healing powers. Although the Catholic church did not believe Bernadette at first, she stuck to her story and eventually the church granted her request and the nowfamous site of Lourdes was built on the spot. It attracts pilgrims from all around the world, particularly the sick and ill who hope to be cured by drinking and washing in the waters, and many healing miracles are said to have occurred. Bernadette was canonised by Pope Pius XI in 1933.