Church Visiting and Candle Light procession

There are many churches here but this one is my favourite. It I a beautiful church and creates, what I think is a closer connection to God, Jesus and Mary. The Golden crown with the cross upon it is a beautiful significant piece of the church.

I believe this pilgrimage is extremely important because it gives people something to believe in. This has enhanced my belief in Christianity as I have seen the truth for myself. I have seen what Mary can do for us. And I can also see her presence in Lourdes. This is an amazing place to be.  There is the Candle light procession where my belief grew extensively. With all the people around me, taking of Our Lady of Lourdes. It’s amazing the amount of faith there is. The candle light procession is held every night from March to November yet there are so many people here tonight. Hearing all of the languages spoken here today, while praying and the rosary soon after. Connecting with many other pilgrims and people from all around the world. The singing and what seems to look like an ocean of light with everyone holding the candles up. The singing swamping around you. This is a once in a lifetime experience.

Collected water from Lourdes

Today I collected the water of Lourdes. I collected the Virgin Mary shaped container and filled it with the holy pure water of Lourdes.  They spoke to us about a famous quote St Bernadette said “One must have faith and pray; the water will have virtue without faith.” I think this is a beautiful quote showing that the water will only work with your belief. The stream of water was found by St Bernadette while she had seen Our Lady of Lourdes (Mary). 

Many people have said that when they bathed in the water of Lourdes they had been healed. It was lovely to see that it is free to receive the water of Lourdes. This has strengthened my faith in God as this water has made miracles happen. I believe this site is very important for pilgrims as this is where St Bernadette saw Mary and there will be forever a connection with the place. I have learnt that Mary is the mother of the Church and this has been taught by the Catholic teachings.  I have learnt that Mary is the virgin mother of God. This is taught by the Catholic Church.

The grotto

The area where Mary the statue is in the cave is here Mary visited St Bernadette. I took a photo of Mary in the grotto. They told us that Bernadette saw Mary while she was praying with the rosary and Mary disappeared when she ended. 

She had not none it was Mary she only knew her as the beautiful lady wearing a white dress with a blue belt and golden flowers on her feet. This is the image of Mary that the Catholic Church uses and teaches us. There was said to happen 17 times during the rest of the year, that’s amazing! I found out that in 1862 Pop Pius IX permitted the honour of Mary in Lourdes. Now it is known as Our Lady of Lourdes. 

The very next year Joseph-Hugues Fabisch created a statue of the Virgin Mary exactly how St Bernadette described her. This was placed in the grotto and was praised with the presence of 20, 000 pilgrims on the 4^th of April the following year.  There is proof that Mary is the Queen of Heaven this is shown through a promise she made to St Bernadette. St Bernadette had seen her at the grotto.  “I promise to make you happy, not in this world, but in the next.”  That shows that she is a superior leader and for St Bernadette in the next life Mary can help and make her not sick as she was in this life.

 

My First Day in Lourdes

“Bonjour” means good morning in French. I’m travelling to France, Lourdes to visit Our Lady of Lourdes. I just arrived in France and it is wonderful. The French accents are lovely.  It’s beautiful here.  Today I plan on starting my trip later throughout the pilgrimage of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

The pilgrimage is beautiful, i can't believe im actually here! I’m really excited to be here. I came here to assure me of my faith and belief’s. It’s so peaceful here I feel relaxed and blessed. Lourdes is making me feel closest to being catholic.