Lourdes is a town situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees, in southwestern France. It is famous for the Christian pilgrimage which occured there, and as the site of extraordinary events and miracles, which are said to continue to take place there. It became the center of a Christian pilgrimage in 1858 after claims of apparitions of the Virgin Mary, seen exclusively by 14 year old Bernadette Soubirous, in the hollow of the rock Massabielle. The first apparition of what is now called "Our Lady of the Lourdes" occurred February 11, 1858 and was described by the girl as that of "a young and beautiful lady".
Cures and miracles are said to have occurred at Lourdes after drinking of the water from the grotto. The bishop of the diocese declared the faithful "justified in believing the reality of the apparition" in 1862. A basilica was built upon the rock of Massabielle. In 1873 the great "national" French pilgrimages were inaugurated. Three years later the basilica was consecrated and the statue solemnly crowned.
As of December 18, 2008 there have been 67 official cures recognized as "Miracles" by the church, however, the unofficial claims of cures is in the thousands.
by cooper
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