Mary, Mother of Jesus · Updated August 15, 2026
Our Lady of Lourdes refers to apparitions of the Virgin Mary reported by Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old girl in Lourdes, France. These events took place at the Grotto of Massabielle from February 11 to July 16, 1858. Bernadette was the illiterate daughter of a miller, and she reported a total of 18 appearances of a lady dressed in white with a blue sash. The Catholic Church later approved these apparitions as worthy of belief.
During the first apparition on February 11, 1858, Bernadette reported seeing a beautiful lady in a niche above the grotto. The visionary described the lady as surrounded by light and dressed in white. Over the course of 18 appearances, the lady appeared consistently to Bernadette, instructing her to pray and perform acts of penance. On one occasion, the lady asked Bernadette to dig in the mud, which led to the discovery of a spring that became renowned for its healing properties.
The messages conveyed by the lady during these apparitions focused on prayer and penance. The lady reportedly requested the construction of a chapel at the site and the holding of processions. On March 25, 1858, the lady identified herself to Bernadette as "the Immaculate Conception," a term that was unfamiliar to the young girl but held theological significance for the Church, aligning with its recent declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The messages emphasized spiritual renewal and devotion.
The Church's response to the events in Lourdes involved a thorough investigation led by Bishop Bertrand-Sévère Laurence of Tarbes. The bishop formed a commission to examine the reports, conducting interviews with Bernadette and other witnesses. The investigation reviewed the reported miracles associated with the spring and the apparitions. After four years, on January 18, 1862, Bishop Laurence declared the apparitions worthy of belief, which allowed for public devotion at the site and affirmed the authenticity of Bernadette's experiences.
The Lourdes spring has since been associated with numerous claims of miraculous healings. The Lourdes Medical Bureau, established in 1883, evaluates these claims rigorously. To date, 70 cases have been recognized by the Church as miracles, having met the criteria of being unexplained by science, instantaneous, complete, and durable. Today, Lourdes is a prominent pilgrimage site, attracting approximately 3.5 million visitors annually. The site remains a place of faith, reflection, and reported healing, continuing the legacy of the apparitions witnessed by Bernadette Soubirous.
Bernadette Soubirous, an illiterate 14-year-old, reported that the apparition identified herself as 'the Immaculate Conception,' a term she did not know, just four years after the doctrine was defined by the Church in 1854.
Our Lady of Lourdes presents a theological tension by introducing the concept of "the Immaculate Conception" through Bernadette Soubirous, a young, uneducated girl. The central question revolves around how Bernadette could articulate such a complex theological term without prior knowledge, raising discussions about divine revelation and human understanding. The Church faces the challenge of integrating Marian apparitions like Lourdes into its doctrinal framework, specifically how these experiences affirm or relate to established theological concepts. This tension touches on the broader issue of how the Church discerns the authenticity and significance of such revelations within its theological system.
In Catholic theology, "private revelation" refers to spiritual experiences such as the apparitions at Lourdes, which are not part of the core deposit of faith required for all Catholics to believe. When the Church approves an apparition, it deems it "worthy of belief," suggesting that it is spiritually beneficial and not contrary to faith or morals. However, this approval does not elevate the apparition to the status of public revelation, which is contained in Scripture and Tradition. In the case of Lourdes, Catholics are not required to believe in Bernadette's visions, but the Church's approval allows for devotion and pilgrimage, recognizing the event's significance for many believers.
The Lourdes apparitions have sparked ongoing debate within the Church and among scholars. Questions persist about the historical accuracy of Bernadette's accounts and the implications of Marian apparitions on Church doctrine. Some theologians express concern about the potential for private revelations to influence or complicate doctrinal teachings, while others argue that such events enrich the faith experience. The historical controversies surrounding Bernadette's visions highlight the Church's cautious approach to validating private revelations. Today, Lourdes remains a focal point for Pilgrimage and devotion, with the Lourdes Medical Bureau continuing to investigate claims of miraculous cures, maintaining a rigorous process to discern genuine cases of healing.
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