You are at - Jotaro's Blog / Footsteps / Cycling Europe 2019- Sites / Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lourdes, France
Footsteps - Jotaro's Travels
SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
Lourdes, France - November 2019
While on of a cycling tour of Portugal & Spain, I managed to fulfill on of life's wishes, that is to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Our family has had an affinity with Lourdes - through the past decades relatives coming back from this holy place had managed bring back the Lourdes Holy Water and sparsely distribute it to our large extended family. During the last few days of the cycling tour, I had managed to pop over to Southern France, from where one of my relatives took me on a long drive over to the pilgrimage town.
We visited Lourdes in mid-November 2019, late autumn and although we were in Southern France, the weather was getting cold. But their was a plus point, it was off-peak and when we arrived at close to 2 pm the town was very quiet with not many visitors around. Parking our car near the cathedral, we took a walk around the old town. The houses along the Ousse River, looked serene and the bustling water of the turquoise water added to this atmosphere. At the sides of a few houses, huge banners hung down advertising "Bernadette de Lourdes", i.e. a musical about Bernadette of Lourdes. We won't be able to attend the show, but nevertheless we will get to know more about the story of this lady, a legend which I have heard of since young days.
 |
| Click on map for enlarged view. |
The place has since grown to be the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is commonly known as the Domain - the area of ground surrounding this Catholic shrine (known simply as the Grotto) to Our Lady of Lourdes (as can be seen in the above map). The Sanctuary is a destination for pilgrimage; sick pilgrims are reputed to be miraculously healed by the Lourdes water. This ground is owned and administered by the Roman Catholic Church, and has several functions, including devotional activities, offices, and accommodation for sick pilgrims and their helpers. The Domain includes the Grotto itself, the nearby taps which dispense the Lourdes water, and the offices of the Lourdes Medical Bureau, as well as several churches and basilicas. It comprises an area of 51 hectares, and includes 22 separate places of worship.
An interactive Google Street map here to "explore: the Domain.
This is a monument of great interest because of the Venetian mosaic decorations covering a surface area of 2000m2. It is decorated with 39 paintings depicting various saints and blessed people, and also by 52 gemmaux.
Just inside this basilica, a dim aisle leads to the bright altar at the other end.
The elaborate dome right at the top of the ceiling over the nave, measuring 2,000m2. Its centerpiece is a huge Greek cross.
The naming of this lower church - Basilica of the Rosary - becomes apparent to me; at both sides of the nave are alcoves with secondary altars adorned with nice murals .....
A closer view of the altar.
The ceiling above the altar.
We exited and went on the pathway at the right. This led us to the Grotto where we attended a mass that was being held. The masses at the Grotto are recorded and posted on YouTube, here's a YouTube link on our attendance for that day - we (in red & blue at the right) can be seen at Minute 21:00 and at Minute 35:17, bowing to the priest.
In the Grotto one can view the holy spring which is now covered by a piece of glass. No worries about collecting the Lourdes water; the water is piped to storage tanks and from there it fed to taps further down. On can easily collect the holy water from these taps, to remember to buy containers from shops in town first.
Within the church were sections were people can either sprinkle themselves with the Lourdes water or immerse themselves fully in the holy water. Many of the faithful have claimed to have been cured by drinking or bathing in it, and the Lourdes authorities provide it free of charge to any who ask for it.
Back at the Esplanade, we take the stairs leading up to a mid-level. There are two of these stairs, one on each side of the entrance to the Basilica of the Rosary. At this mid-level is the dome (the one over the nave of the Basilica of the Rosary). At the top of this dome is a large gold crown with a cross topping it. At this level is also the Porto de la Crypte, which connects to the Chemin de Croix (Way of the Cross) which was completed in 1912 and located on the Hill of Espélugues. This way of the cross is 1500 metres long and has no fewer than 115 figures made of cast iron and painted gold. Each station has been donated, whether by a benefactor, group or diocese
Take a pause here, to look at the large golden crown with the old town in the background.
A closer view of the golden crown's elaborate details. The original gold paint of this crown included the gold from the wedding rings of Irish married women.
Going up the stairs to the top level, one will notice at the top of each stair are these stand alone bell towers, which also looks like "turrets of a castle" - are they there to guard the place?
Vies of the aisle leading to the altar.
Coming back out, from the staircase, a view of the old town.
But before leaving, a surprise. At the bottom of the stairs, a doorway in between the two staircases lead into the Shrine of Ste. Jeanne de Arc (Joan of Arc).
Exiting the shrine, we walk down there driveway ramps. It's a pleasant walk as along the route down were gardens and in them were several statues dedicated to saints like St. Roch, seen here with a dog as he's the patron saint of dogs, invalids, of falsely accused people, bachelors, etc.
The full inscription is "Salus infirmorum ora pro nobis", it's Latin meaning "We pray for the safety of the Sick".
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
(Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes)
Carrer de M1 Avenue Mgr Théas, 65100 Lourdes, France.
Phone: +33-562427878
Hours: 7:45 am – 8:00 pm
Mass time at the Grotto: 12:00 noon.
Related / Similar Blogs :You may also like :
