Novena To Our Lady of Lourdes

Novena To Our Lady of Lourdes

“O ever Immaculate Virgin,
Mother of mercy,
health of the sick,
refuge of sinners,
comforter of the afflicted,
You know my wants,
my troubles,
and my sufferings.
Cast upon me a look of mercy.
By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes,
you were pleased to make it
a privileged sanctuary,
where you dispensed your favors;
and where many sufferers have
obtained the cure of their
infirmities, both spiritual
and corporal. I come, therefore,
with the most unbounded
confidence to implore your
maternal intercession.
Obtain, O loving Mother,
the granting of my requests.
Through gratitude for favors,
I will endeavor to imitate your
virtues that I may one day
share your glory. Amen.

About Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary when she appeared in Lourdes, France. On February 11, 1858, Bernadette Soubirous went to gather firewood with her sister and a friend in the foothills of the Pyrenees in southern France. Bernadette was weak from her asthma and fell behind the other girls. Near the river, she heard a rushing sound in the grotto at the bottom of the mountain. She turned to see a bright light and within the light, there stood a beautiful lady dressed in white. As she approached, she saw that the lady had yellow roses at her feet and was holding a rosary. After Bernadette knelt and prayed the rosary, the lady disappeared.

Three days later, the lady appeared again in the grotto but only Bernadette could see her. The lady asked Bernadette to continue to come to the grotto and as she did, more and more people followed her. On February 25th, the lady told Bernadette to dig in the dirt and drink the water that would come from her digging. With hundreds of people watching, she drank the muddy water. By the next day the water was flowing from the place where she had dug. Then on March 1st, a woman was cured of paralysis after dipping her hand in that spring water.

The Lady then told Bernadette to tell the priests to have a chapel built and processions held there. The priest told Bernadette to ask the Lady her name. When Bernadette returned and told him that she was the Immaculate Conception, the priest knew that the apparitions were real because Bernadette would never have heard those words.

The Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette a total of eighteen times and a large Basilica was built there near the grotto. The Church has recognized 67 known cures in those same waters at Lourdes which still flow endlessly for the million of pilgrims that visit each year.

Feast Day: February 11th
Name Meaning: Town in France
Patron Saint of: France