Lourdes
The miracle of Lourdes happened because of an event which has made the small town in the Pyrenees in France famous throughout the world. A poor, asthmatic girl of just fourteen years old called Bernadette Soubirous, witnessed several apparitions of a beautiful lady in a rock grotto near the local river, the Gave. The Lady eventually revealed herself as the Virgin Mary and also pointed to the ground to an underground spring. She asked Bernadette to wash in it as a sign of hope. The girl could see no water but managed a few muddy smears on her face. Later it was discovered that one of the largest artesian wells was concealed underneath the rocks.
In due course, at the Lady’s request, a chapel was built and people started to come there to pray and to see where the apparition had taken place. Bernadette became a nun and left Lourdes behind, to spend the rest of her short life in a convent. The shrine grew and grew in importance and in buildings, especially after several unique miracles took place. Some very ill people who bathed in the waters of the spring –now channelled into special baths- were instantly cured. The fame of Lourdes grew throughout the twentieth century so that by the year 2000, some five million people went there every year.
Millions visit Lourdes each year –both healthy people and many who are sick- to ask God’s blessing on them and their families. Boys from the School make a regular pilgrimage in July, with Fr Antony and other adults, to help with the sick pilgrims and to act as crowd marshals and voluntary helpers in the hospitals. It is a time of great prayer and community spirit as well as one of friendship and social gatherings. During the visit, the School lights a huge candle on behalf of everyone connected with the School.
The next pilgrimage to Lourdes led by Father Antony Conlon, the School Chaplain, will take place from Friday July 23 - Sunday August 1st 2010. Travelling by coach (2 days journey to Lourdes and two days to return to School). Anyone interested in going should contact Father Antony.
