💧 Lourdes (Sanctuary of Our Lady)
France
About This Sacred Site
Lourdes is one of the world's most important Catholic pilgrimage sites, where 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. The spring water that emerged during one of the apparitions is believed to have healing properties. The Catholic Church has officially recognized 70 miraculous healings at Lourdes. Millions of pilgrims, many sick or disabled, visit annually seeking physical and spiritual healing at the grotto and baths.
Key Facts
- •70 miraculous healings have been officially recognized by the Catholic Church
- •Over 7,000 unexplained medical recoveries have been reported
- •The spring produces 45,000 liters of water daily
- •Bernadette Soubirous was canonized as a saint in 1933
- •The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was built above the grotto in 1876
Location
Coordinates: 43.0963, -0.0577
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