Lourdes Pilgrimage

Over 150 years ago a simple young peasant girl from Lourdes saw the Blessed Virgin Mary who revealed her name in this way: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Lourdes is Europe's most popular Marian Shrine, attracting over six million pilgrims every year from around the world.

For information on Lourdes click here.

Places of Interest

• The Grotto of the Apparitions — the heart and major attraction in Lourdes where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette 18 times.
  
• The Basilicas: The Crypt, Basilica of The Immaculate Conception, Basilica of The Rosary, Basilica of St. Pius X, Saint Bernadette Church, Chapel of St. Bernadette.
  
• The Esplanade — its centre is dominated by the statue of Our Lady Crowned; the symbol of Marian devotion, and the second most venerated statue at Lourdes.
  
• The Baths — where the sick and healthy go to wash themselves from the spring water of Lourdes.
  
• The Fountains — places to pray and drink a little holy water of the Grotto.
  
• The Way of the Cross — the 15 stations wind around a lush green hillside behind the
• Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. There are also the Stations of the Cross for the Sick and the Way of the Cross in glass.
  
• The Reconciliation Chapel — in the Rosary Basilica.
  
• The Tent of Adoration — where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed daily after the 8:00 a.m. French Mass until the beginning of the Blessed Sacrament procession (4:30-5:00 p.m.).
  
• The Adoration Chapel — facing the Grotto, it is built on 12 pillars symbolizing the 12 apostles.
  
• The Processions — two processions take place daily during pilgrimage season — the Blessed Sacrament Procession (4:30 p.m.) and the Torchlight Procession in the evening (starting from the Grotto and ending at the Rosary Basilica).
  
• Museum of St. Bernadette — a few metres from the Sanctuary, it retraces the life of Bernadette, the Message of the Apparitions and the development of the Sanctuary, through beautiful photographs and items belonging to this famous child of Bigorre.
  
• The Boly Mill (Bernadette’s Birthplace) — No. 14 rue Bernadette.
  
• Le Cachot — a prison until 1824, this single room was where the Soubirous Family resided at the time of the Apparitions.
  
• The Parish Church of the Sacred Heart — built between 1875 and 1903, it holds many artifacts of the old church of St. Peter demolished in 1904; amongst other things, the first side-altar holds the Baptismal Font in which Bernadette was baptized on January 9, 1844. The remains of Fr. Dominique Peyramale, the Parish Priest at the time of the Apparitions, are also there.
  You may follow the group program or elect to be on your own.

Pilgrimage Details

Lodging is in a hotel within a few minutes walking distance of the Shrine. Price is based on double accommodation although a single option is available. Two meals (breakfast and dinner) are included. A local French/English speaking tour guide is provided and usually a Catholic priest chaplain accompanies the group.

Date & Price

September 13-21. 2010 $1,899.00 CAD Currency Converter BOOK NOW

Single option: $400.00

Prices do not include airport, departure, and security taxes, tips and insurance.

Prices in Canadian dollars based on departures from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Low add-on fares are available and sometimes it is possible to fly from other destinations directly. Please contact us for more information.

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