Lourdes Shrine, France

In 2017, on a pilgrimage to Garabandal, Spain, I, along with a a group of pilgrims took off to visit other pilgrimage sites that included the Lourdes Shrine in France. This was my third visit to Lourdes, but this time with a tour group. 

What started out as a small market town in the southwestern part of France, located at the foothills of the pyrenees, had become a very special place for Marian apparitions, which began in 1858. A young girl who was gathering wood - Bernadette Soubirous - had an exceptional experience of having a vision of a beautiful Lady at the Grotto of Masabielle. She came from a poor family, she was sickly and had not received much eduction. But she was chosen by Our  Blessed Mother for a very special reason - the be the messenger to reveal to the world the messages she received, that was meant for all of us.

Initially, the Lady in her vision did not identify herself, but she invited Bernadette to return for several more days, totaling eighteen times. To these invitations, Bernadette faithfully complied.
-----

The town was previously known as Chateau fort de Lourdes, where this fortified castle was built, rising from a rocky steep slope along the riverbank. Our visit to Lourdes coincided with the April full moon.

AT THE LOURDES SHRINE

The rotund just before getting to the heart of the Lourdes Shrine

The Sanctuary (Basilica) of Our Lady of Lourdes

Here is a synopsis of the interactions Bernadette had with the beautiful Lady: 

"...During the third apparition, on 18th February, the Virgin spoke for the first time: “what I have to say to you does not have to be written down”. This means that Mary wished to communicate with Bernadette in a loving heart to heart way. From the very start, Bernadette was invited to open the depths of her heart to this message of love.

      - Bernadette was overwhelmed by the second statement of the Virgin Mary: “Would you be so kind as to come here for fifteen days?” It is the first time that Bernadette was addressed in a formal way. She felt she was respected and loved,... We are all worthy of respect in the eyes of God, because He loves each one of us.

       - The third statement of the Virgin was: “I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other.” When Jesus, in the Gospel, invites us to discover the Kingdom of Heaven, He invites us to discover the “another world” within our world as it is. Wherever there is love, God is present.

"...During the first seven apparitions, Bernadette’s face always radiated joy, happiness and light. However between the eight and twelfth apparitions, everything changed: Bernadette’s face became harsh, sad, and sorrowful, and above all she performed incomprehensible gestures… She moved on her knees to the back of the Grotto. She kissed the dirty repulsive ground of the Grotto. She ate some bitter plants. She scraped the ground three times trying to drink the muddy water at the back of the Grotto...she took mud in her hands and smeared it on her face... What did all these mean? Nobody understood! Nonetheless, here we are at the heart of the “Message of Lourdes”.

     - BIBLICAL DIMENSIONS:
...Bernadette ACTS OUT the INCARNATIOM, the PASSION and DEATH of CHRIST Moving on her knees to the back of the Grotto: this action recalls the INCARNATION, God humbles himself to become human.
.....EATING the BITTER HERBS at the back of the Grotto recalls the JEWISH TRADITION found in the ancient texts.
.....SMEARING HER FACE with MUD: when the prophet Isaiah speaks to us about Christ, he depicts Him as “the SUFFERING SERVANT”.

"During the ninth apparition, “the Lady” asked Bernadette to scrape the soil, saying to her: “Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there”. By these actions, the mystery of the heart of Jesus is revealed for us: “A soldier pierced his heart with his lance and there immediately flowed out blood and water.” The herbs and the mud represent the heart of man wounded by sin. However, in the deepest recesses of that heart, there lies the very life of God signified by the Spring. Bernadette is asked: “Did the ‘Lady’ say anything to you?” She replied: “Yes, from time to time, She said: “penance, penance, penance. Pray for sinners”. By “Penance”, one must understand conversion...consists of turning one’s heart towards God and towards our brothers and sisters, as Christ taught us.

"During the thirteenth apparition, Mary said to Bernadette: “Go, tell the priests and that people should come here in procession and to build a chapel here.”
- “Come here in procession” means accompanying our brothers and sisters in this life.
- “Build a chapel here.” In Lourdes, chapels were built to accommodate the crowds of pilgrims. The chapel is the “Church” that we ought to build where we are.

"On 25th March 1858, the day of the sixteenth apparition, Bernadette asked the “Lady” her name. The “Lady” replied in the local dialect: “Que soy era Immaculada Counceptiou”, which means “I am the Immaculate Conception”. The Immaculate Conception is “Mary conceived without sin, by the merits of the Cross of Christ”... Bernadette went to see the Parish priest straight away to give him the name of the “Lady”. He then realized it was the Mother of God who was appearing in the Grotto. Later, Mgr Laurence, Bishop of Tarbes, authenticated this revelation."

-----
It had only been four years before when the dogma on the Immaculate Conception had been defined under the papacy of Pope Pius IX, in 1854. Bernadette, whose education was limited, had no idea what Our Lady meant when she identified herself. But, still she did as Our Lady had requested her to do.

The mosaic design depicting Our Lady at the dome above the altar of the sanctuary

One of the most attended activities in Lourdes is the torchlight procession. Pilgrims from all over the world gather around before 9:00 p.m. (from April to October) for this, with rosaries in hand.

My companions and I joined  the crowd, as the sick and the able came together and were organized to get into designated places. 

The pilgrims gathered near the front steps of the sanctuary...

where some groups and organizations were identified by banners or flags. 

A statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, resting on a palanquin, had been  prepared for the procession.

The mosaic design on the façade of the sanctuary by Fr. Marko Rupnik - a Jesuit, Slovenian priest -  was added in 2008.  The design embodies the Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, depicting the "Wedding at Cana" on the exterior entrance leading to the lower basilica. Sadly, it has been embroiled in controversy in the last couple of years. 

As of July, 2024, Bishop Jean Marc-Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes,  originally, wanted the mosaic removed after Fr. Rupnik was excommunicated by the Vatican in May 2020, after several women accused him of sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuses dating to 30 years back. However, after meeting with the pope on June 20, 2024 with regards to the fate of the artworks of Fr. Rupnik (an abuser) which are all over the world, the good bishop  decided that the mosaic art in the Lourdes Basilica will no longer be lit up during the torchlight procession, as a first step to take. As you can imagine, this decision was not received well by  the abused victims.

In May 2023, a commission - composed of abused victims, sacred-art specialists, lawyers, and chaplains - was organized by Bishop Micas to decide what to do with the Rupnik mosaic.  That has been almost two years ago. For more information about what has become of the case of Fr. Rupnik, please read about it here. I pray - unto the loving care of Our Lady of Lourdes, may the abuse victims find healing.

Our Blessed Lady led the way...


while we prayed the rosary, silently raising up our pleas and intentions for healing, for resolutions to problems, or in thanksgiving.

We walked through the labyrinthine way, along the riverbank...


passed by the infirmary...

and ended at the Masabielle Grotto...


after which time, many of the pilgrims lined up to see the original spot from which the healing waters of Lourdes had flowed from, and continues to up to this day.

We called it a night as it was getting late and went back to our hotel. We were booked for two nights at Hotel Christina, which was well situated around souvenir shops and located near the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes. The next day, we had enough time to go around and shop for  our religious articles, attend mass, go to confession, and light candles.

With the close proximity of our hotel to the basilica, it only took us 10 minutes to walk in by taking the side gate.

We went back to the grotto to sit and pray, and to peruse...

as we followed the line to go around the ground level of the cave beneath the grotto. While walking along the wall of the cave, we were able to wipe our handkerchiefs, or use our hands to gather some moisture trickling down into drops of water to bless ourselves.

Here is the original spot where Bernadette was asked by Our Lady to scratch the ground from where the healing water started to flow.

Enclosed in glass and lit from beneath, we could see the flow of water running. 

Under this banc (French word for bench) in the grotto grounds, we saw this spot where Bernadette had prayed on February 11, 1858,  during her initial encounter and her subsequent encounters with the Lady...;where she eventually found out who the beautiful Lady was - the "Immaculate  Conception."


Near the grotto, to the left were faucets from where the pilgrims could collect the healing water from Lourdes into containers; or, collect the water with capped hands to drink, to wash their faces or body parts that were being lifted up to Our Lady's intercession for healing. 

Some of us form our group decided to join the line, early in the morning, to get to the waiting area, to be dunked in the bath stalls.

Among the miracles one can experience when in Lourdes is while "taking a bath" in the bath stalls, is to not to need to dry oneself after. We were instructed to just get dressed and quite instantly we dried up.

Gave de Pau riverbank, near the grotto

As we bid adieu to Our Lady of Lourdes, we were on a spiritual high as we relished the time and the graces and blessings we received in our visit with her.

We were back on the road again to continue our pilgrimage to more  sites, as we headed back to Garabandal, along the route to Cantabria.

As much as 70 miraculous healings have been investigated and approved by the Catholic Church; though, many, many more healings have been received by pilgrims who go there, or pray to Our Lady of Lourdes, where ever they are, to intercede for them for healing in mind, body and spirit. 

The Lourdes Shrine ranks as one of the most visited sites where  anywhere from four to six million pilgrims are welcomed each year. Be one of them in 2025!

For more information: https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/

St. Ignatius of Loyola

With the mere mention of "Loyola" in Spain, right away, brought to my mind St. Ignatius of Loyola. My visit to Loyola centered on the Basilica of St. Ignatius, as part of a pilgrimage I had joined to Garabandal.

Who was St. Ignatius of Loyola?

The Sanctuary of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Azpeitia

On October 23,1941, St. Ignatius was born to the Lord of Loyola - Beltrãn Ibañez de Oñaz, and his wife Maria Sãnchez de Licona, in his family home in the little town of Azpeitia, a Basque province of Guipuzcoa, in Northern Spain. His real name was Iñigo Lopez de Loyola, named after St. Enecus (Innicus in Basque, Iñigo in Spanish). He was the youngest of  thirteen children. Soon after his birth, his mother passed away. He was cared for by the local blacksmith's wife, Maria de Garin. 

By the age of sixteen, Iñigo became a page and a member of the household of Juan Velazquez de Cuellar, who was the treasurer in Castile (Spain). At the court of Velazquez, Iñigo developed a taste for the worldly life, got addicted to gambling, and developed an argumentative attitude which got him into trouble, at times. But the Loyola family name was quite powerful, and he managed to get away with his misdeeds.

At seventeen, he became a military officer and was seen more as a "fancy dresser, an expert dancer, a womanizer, sensitive to insults, and a rough punish swordsman" more than being a good soldier.  While he was defending the fortress in the Battle of Pamplona on May 20,  1521 against the French, a cannon struck him and his leg was wounded. The French found him to be courageous. Instead of taking him as a prisoner, they brought him back to his home - to the Castle of Loyola, for him to recover. However, his leg did not heal and his condition seemed to indicate his imminent death, according to his doctors.

While he was still recuperating at the hospital that was run by a religious order, he was in search of books to read and the only one he could find was entitled "Life of Christ" (De Vitta Christi by Ludolph of Saxony). As he read and went through the pages, he became more interested  in the lives of the saints, as he was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and other great saints. This book highly influenced him in his ensuing prayer life. This was the beginning of his conversion. And, soon he heard the call to religious life. 

On June 29 - on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, he was miraculously healed. In the hospital he was getting visits  which he concluded were diabolical. Although, his leg injury caused him to walk with a limp, afterwards. 

When he felt well enough, Iñigo set off to journey to the Holy Land in September of 1521, with the intention of settling there. However, he only lasted there for twenty days - from September 3 to 23 - as the Franciscans, who officially had  "Custody of the Holy Land" sent him back. 

In March, 1522, he visited the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat. While there, he had a vision of the Blessed Mother and the Child Jesus. After, he surrendered his sword before the statue of Our Lady.

A metal sculpture of St. Ignatius's vision of the Blessed Mother and the chid Jesus (in the garden next to the basilica )

From there, Iñigo took a 25km walk to Manresa. It eas at a cave there where he led an ascetic and spiritual life, where he conceived his Spiritual Exercises." He learned about imagining oneself at the Gospel scene, visualizing the story known as  a "simple contemplation." This became the basis for his exercises which consisted of "meditations, prayers and mental exercises" which were , then, published in 1548. Ignatian spirituality is designed to bring us to a deeper prayer life, while seeing God as present and active in our lives, to guide us in our discernment, in making our decisions, and to have an active life in being there to serve others. 

He went back to Barcelona at the age of thirty-three to attend grammar school as preparation to enter a university. From there, he went on to attend the University of Alcala, from 1524 to 1534, where he studied  theology and Latin. While there, he ran into some women who had to go before the Inquisition. These women were viewed as alumbrados (Iluminated, Illuminati, or Enlightened Ones), whose spirituality was linked  to that of the Franciscan reforms. This incurred the suspicion of the administrators of the Inquisition.

On one occasion, Iñigo was preaching on the street when three of these devout women went into ecstatic states, like "One fell senseless, another sometimes rolled about on the ground, another had been seen in the grip of convulsions or shuddering and sweating in anguish." These manifestations - which happened while Iñigo was preaching without even having  studied theology - got him into trouble. As this was deemed as a suspicious activity, he underwent interrogation by the Inquisition, but was released later on.

Education became important to Iñigo. At 38 years old, he went to Paris to attend the Collège Sainte-Barbe, which at the time was the center of French Renaissance. With little knowledge of French and Latin, he managed to progress, starting from learning the basic courses; and in the years that followed more courses in science, philosophy, and theology. From his Parisian educational experience, he left us the legacy of setting class levels: Freshman, sophomore, Junior, senior.

It was in Paris that he changed his name to Ignatius, which was used in his diploma when he graduated. His switch to the latin name "Ignatius" later on, was believed to have been made to make it better understood in France and Italy. He adopted the surname "de Loyola" to indicate where he was born.

He wanted to pursue further studies but he was tied down in the doctoral program due to his age and stomach problems that he developed from his penance practices while he was in Manresa.  He finished his master's degree from the University of Paris at 43 years old.

Ignatius made friends in Paris: Francis Xavier (a nobleman from the eastern end of the Basque country), Alfonso Salmeron, Diego Laynez, and Nicholas Bobadilla, all of whom were Spaniards; Peter Faber - a Savoyard from the south of France; and Simão Rodrigues of Portugal.

Bonded by the spiritual exercises he led them through, together they took their vows at Eglise Saint-Pierre du Montmartre (Church of Saint Peter of Montmartre) on August 14, 1534, with a mission to convert. They were eventually joined by Saint Francis Borgia and other nobles.  

Their plans to go to the Holy Land were thwarted while they waited for a ship to take them from Venice, due to the outbreak of the war between the Venetians and the Turks. With the change of plans, they ended up in Rome. There, they spent their time in communal discernment.

The Society of Jesus - the Jesuit order - was established on September 27, 1540, with the approval of Pope Paul III. Ignatius became the first superior general of the order. The society had a special vow of obedience to the pope, and to serve the pope as missionaries.They were, prominently, involved during the Counter-Reformation.

To start their work, Ignatius sent his companions to establish schools, colleges, and seminaries all over Europe. On one occasion, he met the ambassador to Rome of Charles V - Juan de Vega. The ambassador had so much respect and admiration for Ignatius. He invited the Jesuits - when he became the Viceroy of Sicily - to open a Jesuit college in Messina, which became a model school that was used for the other schools that were put up. 

Ignatius - because of his book of Spiritual Exercises - was brought before the Roman Inquisition in 1548. He was released and papal permission was given for the printing of his book, which was formatted to be carried out for a period of 28-30 days.

Along with the help of his personal secretary - Juan Alfonso de Polanco, together they wrote the Jesuits' constitution, which was created as a monarchical organization, stressing absolute self-denial and obedience to the pope and to the the Catholic hierarchy, using the motto perinde ac cadaver (as if a dead body) , was adopted in 1554. The Jesuits' motto was based on his principle: Ad majorem Dei gloriam ("For the greater glory of God.")

From 1553–1555, Ignatius dictated his autobiography to his secretary, Father Gonçalves da Câmara. It was archived  for about 150 years, until the Bollandists (an association of scholars, philologists, and historians) published the text in Acta Sanctorum  (a principal source for research into the societies and cultures of early Christian and medieval Europe).

He is the patron saint of Catholic soldiers, the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Basque Country, and various towns and cities in his native region. 

Biographical films have been made about his life: In 1949 he was the subject of a Spanish  film The Captain from Loyola, in which he was played by Rafael Durán. In 2016, he was the subject of a Filipino film Ignacio de Loyola, in which he was magnificently played by Andreas Muñoz.

The main entrance to the sanctuary

He died in Rome on July 31, 1556, after contracting the Roman Fever - a severe case of Malaria that had made its rounds several times before. He was placed in a wooden shrine, covered with his priestly garments. On August 1st,  the shrine was brought to the Maria della Strada Church. In 1568 that church was replaced with the Chiesa del Gesù (Church of the Gesù). Placed in a new coffin, Saint Ignatius was reinterred in the Church of the Gesù in Rome, Italy.

Upon his death, the house  - his place of birth - was given to the order he founded. The house is now a museum and is part of the basilica complex. Next to the house, the Sanctuary of Loyola was built. It became a place of veneration in the seventeenth century. 

A waterway on one side of the property

 The Shrine and Basilica (Santuario de Loyola) is a series of buildings built in the Churrigueresque Baroque style.

This is a Spanish Baroque style, developed in the late 17th century and it was in use up to around 1750. It incorporated very elaborate sculptural and architectural ornamentation in the church design, mainly, found in the main entrance of a building.

It derives its name from José Benito de Churriguera (1665-1725), a sculptor and architect from Madrid who got his inspiration from Alonso Cano, the architect who designed the cathedral in Granada, in 1667.

The shrine of St. Ignatius was built around the tower of the Loyola Castle in northeastern Spain. It consisted of several buildings that made up the basilica complex in a huge piece of land. The construction began in 1688 under the supervision of the project architect, Carlo Fontana.

 The cupola

The main altar

 The pulpit

Details of the main altar with a statue St. Ignatius above the crucifix.

Madonna and Child

  San Francisco de Xavier

Sacred Heart of Jesus

 San Pedro Faber

 San Alonso Rodriguez
Due to time constraints, I was not able to take pictures of the other friends who took their vows with Ignatius, on the other side of the main altar.

Door details

The Cemetery

Located somewhere behind the basilica, is the cemetery. This was a place of interest to my pilgrimage group as our visit to Loyola was a side trip, as part of our pilgrimage to Garabandal.

Among the priests who went to investigate for himself about the ongoings in Garabandal was Fr. Luis Andreu, a 38 year-old Spanish Jesuit. While at the Pines - the apparition site consisting of five tall evergreen trees - he was heard to say "Miracle, miracle!" when he had a vision of the virgin Mary, where she granted him a preview of the great miracle that was forthcoming. At the same time, the four children - Conchita Gonzalez, Maria Dolores "Mari Loli" Mazon, Jacinta Gonzalez, and  Maria Cruz Gonzalez - who were in ecstasy,  came to understand what Our Lady was saying to him - "You will soon be with me."

With so much joy in his heart, Fr. Andreu spoke about this happy occasion: "Oh! What a sweet and lovely Mother we have in heaven. How happy I am. What a favor the Blessed Virgin has bestowed on me. How fortunate we are to have a Mother like her in heaven. There is no reason to fear the supernatural life. The girls have given us an example of how we  must act with the Blessed Virgin. There is no doubt in my mind that the things involving the girls are true. Why should the Blessed Virgin choose us? This is the happiest day of my life." These became his final words. He bowed his head and died.

Our Lady has said that the body of Fr. Andreu will be found to be incorrupt on the day after the miracle comes to pass (a prophecy of which was given to the sears in Garabandal).

 Next to the basilica is a center for spirituality where retreats, meetings, congresses and pastoral activities are held, under the auspices of the Handmaids of Christ he King.

Ignatius' path to sainthood came swiftly, a few years after his death, he was beatified by Pope Paul V on July 27, 1609, and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. St. Ignatius of Loyola's feast day is celebrated on July 31st.

**********

Travel tips to Loyola:

The nearest cities are either Bilbao or San Sebastian. The San Sebastian airport  has limited service, while the Bilbao airport has flights to several European destinations. Trains services are available from Madrid to Bilbao (about 4-5 hours), as well as to San Sebastian. From either city you would need to take a bus to Loyola.

Address: 20730 Loiola, Guipúzcoa, País Vasco, Spain