Lourdes 2008
Background
The story of Lourdes began in 1858 when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous.
On 11th February, Bernadette with her sister and a friend went to collect firewood. When she reached the rock of Massabielle, Bernadette heard a gust of wind and noticed that a wild rosebush in a niche in the grotto was moving. A gentle light brightened the dark recess and there stood a beautiful girl, dressed in white with a blue sash and a yellow rose on each foot. She was smiling, with her arms spread in welcome. Bernadette prayed the rosary but when the apparition beckoned her closer she did not dare approach.
Bernadette witnessed 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the French town between 11 February and 16 July, 1858.
Audio
In this mp3, recorded in the French town, you'll hear Bishop Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, talking about Bernadette and the story of Lourdes:
Bishop Declan Lang on the story of Lourdes (mp3)
Click for more information, resources and excellent multimedia from the Diocese of Clifton.
Pope celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Lourdes apparitions
Pope Benedict XVI travelled to France for an Apostolic visit to mark the jubilee anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes.
It was the first time the Pope had visited the country as the Bishop of Rome.
The visit began in Paris on 12 September where the Holy Father met with priests, religious, seminarians and deacons in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame before greeting the thousands of young people who gathered in the square in front of the cathedral that evening.
It was a chance for many European pilgrims to be with the Pope just two months after 500,000 young people travelled to Sydney for World Youth Day.
As well as checking vatican.va, you can find the full programme and more information on the papeaparis.org website.
Lourdes
The Holy Father travelled from Paris down to Lourdes, at the foot of the Pyrenees, on 13 September - a day after his arrival in France.
Holy Mass for the 150th anniversary of the Apparitions in the Prairie was celebrated at 10am on 14 September.
For the Pope's full itinery and other useful resources, visit vatican.va
Papal speeches and homilies
Pope Benedict XVI addresses young people outside Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris (pdf)
Pope Benedict XVI's homily at the torchlit procession, Lourdes (pdf)
Pope Benedict XVI's Angelus address, Lourdes (pdf)
Pope Benedict XVI's homily at the Mass to celebrate 150 years of the Lourdes' apparitions (pdf)
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor joins Pope Benedict XVI in Lourdes
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor joined His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI in Lourdes to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions.
Speaking of his four-day pilgrimage, Cardinal Cormac said, “Lourdes is a place of tremendous spiritual enrichment, which has brought consolation and hope to thousands of pilgrims. I am delighted to be joining the Pope to mark this Jubilee year and to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions.”
Images from the Apostolic Visit to France and Lourdes
Bishop Paul Hendricks - audio diary
Bishop Paul Hendricks, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, recently travelled to the Marian shrine for Southwark's diocesan pilgrimage.
During his time in Lourdes, Bishop Hendricks recorded an audio diary.
Here's the first installment:
Torchlit procession
One of the most famous events in Lourdes is the nightly torchlit procession. More than 30,000 people from around the world gather in prayer.
Clifton's Tom Bigwood and Pilgrimage Director Deacon Trevor Jones give us a flavour of this moving, prayerful occasion.
Clifton's Pilgrimage Director Deacon Trevor Jones on the torchlit procession (mp3)
Visit cliftondiocese.com for more...
International Military Pilgrimage
2008 is a special year for two reasons. Not only does it mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions, it also sees the 50th International Military Pilgrimage (IMP).
The IMP has grown from a gathering of French and German Catholics in the armed forces in 1958 to this year's 25,000 forces personel from 35 different countries.
The 2008 International Military Pilgrimage ran from 22 May to 26 May.
Audio
Bishop Tom Burns on the 50th International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes (mp3)
The Twelve 'Missions'
The celebrations of the 150th anniversary began on the 8 December 2007, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and will continue until 8 December 2008.
The Jubilee celebrations comprise of 12 ‘Missions’ to address the needs of the Church. Currently underway, these missions are expressed by a diverse range of pilgrimage groups sharing their experience, faith and witness.
1. The Church in Mission with its volunteers, in the service of others
2. The Church in Mission with Mary
3. The Church in Mission with Young People
4. The Church in Mission for Christian Unity
5. The Church in Mission in the Call to Conversion
6. The Church in Mission with the Sick
7. The Church in Mission with People with disability
8. The Church in Mission between Nations
9. The Church in Mission for Peace
10. The Church in Mission, Nourished by the Eucharist
11. The Church in Mission for Inter-religious dialogue
12. The Church in Mission with the Marginalised
More information on the twelve missions from the official Lourdes website.
Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
Mary, you showed yourself to Bernadette
in the crevice of the rock.
In the cold and grey of winter,
you brought the warmth, light and beauty
of your presence,
In the often obscure depths of our lives,
in the depth of the world where evil is so powerful,
bring hope,
return our confidence!
You are the Immaculate Conception,
come to our aid, sinners that we are.
Give us the humility to have a change of heart,
the courage to do penance.
Teach us to pray for all people.
Guide us to the source of true life.
Make us pilgrims going forward with your Church,
whet our appetite for the Eucharist,
the bread for the journey, the bread of life.
The Spirit brought about wonders in you, O Mary:
by his power, he has placed you near the Father,
in the glory of your eternal Son.
Look with kindness
on our miserable bodies and hearts.
Shine forth for us, like a gentle light,
at the hour of our death.
Together with Bernadette, we pray to you, O Mary,
as your poor children.
May we enter, like her, into the spirit of the Beatitudes.
Then, we will be able, here below,
begin to know the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and sing together with you:
Magnificent!
Glory to you, Virgin Mary,
blessed servant of the Lord,
Mother of God,
dwelling place of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Links:
Vatican.va (details of the Holy Father's visit)
Lourdes Grotto - live webcam (official site)
The Pope in Lourdes (official site)
Diocese of Arundel and Brighton