THE BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Lourdes

Located at Avenue Mgr Theas, Le Sanctuaire, 65100 Lourdes, France, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Basilique de L'lmmaculee-Conception de Lourdes) is a Roman Catholic Church within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the area surrounding the Grotto of Massabielle. It is also known as the Upper Basilica because it can be seen above the Rosary Basilica and the Crypt. Built on top of the rock of Massabielle above the Grotto, the neo-Gothic style Basilica was designed by architect Hippolyte Durand. Constructed between the years 1866 and 1871, it was the second of the churches to be completed and was officially opened for worship on 15 August 1871. It was consecrated on 2 July 1876 by Cardinal Joseph-Hippolyte Guibert, the Archbishop of Paris. Thus the Virgin Mary's request during the thirteenth apparition, "Go and tell the priests to build a chapel here" was granted. That was also the reason why the Church was named the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

The stained-glass windows of the Basilica

The Interior of the Basilica

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception can hold about 600 people. 51 metres long, 21 metres wide and 19 meters high, it has a single nave lit with colors from stained-glass windows. The series of stained-glass windows of the Basilica illustrate the story of the Immaculate Conception from the Terrestrial Paradise right up to the promulgation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX on 8 December 1854. The scenes on the upper part of the nave to the left begin with the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden after committing original sin followed by scenes from the Old Testament relating to the Immaculate Conception. The scenes on the upper part of the nave to the right depict events from the New Testament and the history of the Church. On the lower part of the nave are 23 chapels each with its own stained-glass window illustrating the important events relating to the apparitions in Lourdes as well as the history of Lourdes. These beautiful stained-glass windows were designed and made by the French painter and illustrator, Laurent Gsell, according to the guidance of Canon Lambert from Paris.

The Chapel of Saint Peter

The Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi

The Chapel of Saint Germaine

The high altar is made of white Carrara marble. On the left of the presbytery is the white Carrara marble statue of Our Lady of Lourdes sculpted by the French sculptor, Emilien Cabuchet. There are five more chapels around the chevet dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of La Salette, Our Lady of Victories, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Our Lady of Pontmain respectively.

The High Altar of the Basilica

The White Carrara Marble Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes

The exterior is dominated by a 70-metre high Gothic bell tower which rises about 100 metres above the Gave de Pau River. Above the Gothic portal is a mosaic medallion depicting Pope Pius IX, who promulgated the infallible dogma of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December 1854. The Basilica clock plays the "Ave Maria" every hour and chimes the hours with a 2-tonne bell named Jeanne-Alphonsine. The Basilica has four bells - the other bells in the tower are called Genevieve-Felicie (1800 kg), Hermine-Benoete (1100 kg), and Cecile-Gastine (800 kg).

The Exterior of the Basilica

The 70-meter Gothic Spire of the Basilica

You may also like to read THE PARISH CHURCH OF LOURDES, LOURDES: MIRACLES AND THE MIRACULOUSLY HEALED, and CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN LOURDES. To view the content page of this blog, please click here. There is a complete list of my articles about Lourdes on this page.

References:
1.  Lourdes. Doucet Publicatins.
2.  Lourdes & Bernadette. Publisher "il Calamo"
3.  Discover Lourdes. MSM.