Our Lady of Lourdes: A Reflection
“If we had faith, we would feel the Divine Presence everywhere.” - St. Bernadette of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day celebrates the 18 times the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 14-year-old St. Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France over a six-month period in 1858. (Catholic News Agency, 2026).
St. Bernadette described the Virgin Mother appearing in a grotto near a river as “the lady in white” and holding a rosary. The Blessed Mother told St. Bernadette to eat weeds and drink from a muddy stream which days later became clear (CNA, 2026). St. Bernadette was repeatedly asked for a chapel to be built near the stream and people to come. “The lady in white” later revealed herself to St. Bernadette as “...the Immaculate Conception” (CNA, 2026).
Thousands of pilgrims have since visited the Grotto of Lourdes to touch the rock, drink from the water, light a candle, and/or pray the rosary (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, 2026). It is a place where the world order is turned upside down: the disabled, vulnerable, and sick are seen and are first.
In the Godsplaining Podcast, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Patrick Briscoe spoke of their experiences visiting Lourdes as a “friendly place” where “nice Mama wants to heal you” as a consoling apparition site. All the different aspects of any visit to Lourdes were asked for by our Lady – the drinking of and bathing in the water, the candles, and processions to see priests pray.
Living out Lourdes
We can often hear about a pilgrimage site of a Marian Apparition and think, “I would love to visit” or “One day I’ll visit” and move on with our day. Or that the apparition was long ago or far away – too far removed from our own daily lives. Perhaps we think that a Marian apparition is just not “for us.”
The truth is that the Blessed Virgin Mother, Mother of God, is our mother too. Jesus gives us His mother on the cross: “Woman, behold your son.” and “Son, behold your mother.” (John 19:26-27). Mary is a good mama whose desire is to bring you closer to your Son. And you don’t have to travel to a site to experience the consolation of Mary as mother. You can encounter her in your day-to-day activities.
Mary lived a hidden life in Nazareth. She cared for her family and for those around her. Our Lady of Lourdes reveals her heart for the sick, lame, disabled, and vulnerable. She sees people the world brushes aside or ignores. She loves those in need of healing and consolation.
Through her example, we can see those that the world ignores. We can care and show compassion to the weak and vulnerable. The Corporal Work of Mercy of Visiting the Sick can include visiting the sick in the hospital or a care center, or sitting with the person who is all alone at work or smiling and talking with a colleague who seems overwhelmed. We do not have to go far to turn our world into one where the sick, disabled, and vulnerable are first and seen.
Ask For Her Intercession
Our Lady always invites us to pray – to pray for sinners, the conversion of hearts, and those in purgatory. The Rosary can be intimidating, and it can be hard to get into the rhythm. Personally, I have found that one or two decades for a situation or person is doable and makes it less of a chore and more of a prayer and meditation of the heart. It helps to give yourself grace in not reciting the “perfect rosary” but rather saying it imperfectly with intention, trusting that Mary and Jesus see and hear your prayer.
Our Lady also asks us to do penance for sinners and the world. We know the state of our world. What if we really did one small act of penance – fasting or abstaining – for a person or situation? We may not see the impact of that act immediately, but we may slowly see and experience the conversion of our own hearts and souls as we grow closer to the heart of Mary, who leads us to her Son’s heart.
Finally, our Lady wants us to be healed. Go to a Daily Mass; sit with Jesus in Adoration; run to Confession. Allow our Mother Mary to mother your heart and console you in your suffering and sorrows.
Our Lady of Lourdes, we ask for your intercession so that we may see those that the world ignores. May we grow ever closer to your Son. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.