Syndicat d'Initiative
de Cerfontaine
de Cerfontaine
The Virgin Mary
On Thursday, 11 February 1858, near the village of Lourdes in France, the young Bernadette Soubirous, accompanied by her sister Marie-Antoinette and a friend Jeanne, went to collect firewood to take back to their home.
As they approached a cave called "Massabielle", Bernadette, a little isolated, saw a beautiful child dressed in white appear, whom she called "aquero", meaning "that there".
Bernadette greeted her and prayed her rosary while the little child invited the girl to come closer. But afraid, she did not dare to approach and the vision suddenly disappeared.
The girl tells her adventure to her sister and friend and asks them not to repeat anything, but Marie-Antoinette tells the story to their mother and the two sisters are punished.
Some days later, obsessed by this vision, Bernadette returns to the cave with other friends. She prays her rosary again and the vision appears once more, but only Bernadette can see it. She even sprinkles her vision with holy water to make sure it is not a demon. In a trance before this vision, Bernadette cannot move and her friends call a miller to lift her and bring her to safety so she regains consciousness.
This second vision causes a rumour that attracts a lot of attention and brings more and more people to the cave, always in the presence of Bernadette, who is closely monitored, especially in terms of her mental health. She also performs small miracles on the spot. For example, she discovers a water source in the cave, after following the instructions of her vision and digging the ground. A water source that is said to have miraculous properties.
More and more people want to go to the cave, causing unrest in the region and even forcing the police to keep the girl away. But Bernadette is determined and refuses to yield to the pressure of the authorities.
It is only on 25 March that the vision announces that she is the Immaculate Conception, convincing the local priest that the vision is true.
The last vision of the Virgin before Bernadette's eyes dates back to 16 July before the authorities closed access to the places. The cave was reopened on the order of Napoleon III, so that believers could come there to pray or go on pilgrimage.
The water from the cave, whose source was discovered and excavated by Bernadette, is said to have healing properties and has miraculously healed the sick.
Finally, the bishop of Tarbes officially publishes on 18 January 1862 that the apparitions are true, while in 1871 a first church is built on the site and a second building in 1883.
Today, the sanctuary of Lourdes welcomes millions of pilgrims and visitors each year.
The statue in this devotion chapel is accompanied by another statue representing the young Bernadette Soubirous in front of Our Lady.