LOURDES: THE GROTTO OF MASSABIELLE

The Grotto of Massabielle: Here, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette from 18 February to 16 July 1858.

The Grotto of Massabielle is the heart of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Pilgrims from around the world flock to Lourdes during the summer to pray at the spot where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette 18 times in 1858. The name Massabielle originated from "Massevielle" which means "old rock" in Bigourdan, the local dialect. The rock cave of Massabielle where Bernadette witnessed the Virgin Mary is about 20 metres high and is surrounded by shrubs and covered with bushes and ivy. It is supported by an enormous natural vault, which in reality, is the Grotto itself. The rock cave of Massabielle has three irregular openings and the largest one is 5 metres high, 7 metres wide and 8 metres deep. The roof of the cave is covered in ivy. A white carrara marble statue of the Virgin Mary was blessed and placed in the Grotto on 4 April 1864. The statue was a gift from two Lacour sisters, the sisters of the speaker of the French Senate from Lyon. It is the work of the French sculptor, Joseph-Hugues Fabisch, who sculpted the statue according to Bernadette's descriptions. The words "Que Soy era Immaculada Councepciou" which means "I am the Immaculate Conception" are engraved on the pedestal. These words, in the local dialect, were the last words Our Lady said to Bernadette during the sixteenth apparition on 25 March 1858, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

The Massabielle Rock - there is always a long queue of pilgrims waiting for their turns to touch the rock of Massabielle during the pilgrimage season from April to October. 

The Massabielle rock is blackened by candle soot that is released by the candles which burn day and night in a large cone-shaped candelabrum (at the feet of the statue) in memory of the first candle lit by Bernadette at the Grotto on 19 February 1858. Since that day, lighting a candle at the Grotto has become a tradition following Bernadette's example. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the Grotto to light candles as a symbol of their faith in God. More than three million candles are lit in front of the Grotto every year. "I am the light of the world. No follower of mine shall ever walk in darkness," these were the words of Jesus according to the Gospel of John 8:12. The candles therefore symbolize light in the darkness of life and represent Jesus as the light of the world. In a way, lighting the candles is also equivalent to laying down their burdens, anxieties, fears, uncertainties, and miseries in front of the Grotto. 

The large cone-shaped candelabrum at the feet of the statue

Candles of various sizes can be found on the left of the drinking taps. The profits of the sale of candles are mainly used for the upkeep of the shrine. Since the number of candles bought by the pilgrims during the pilgrimage season is so great, it is impossible to lit all of them in front of the Grotto at the same time. Alternatively, pilgrims are asked to pray with their unlit candles in their hands and then hand over the candles to the staff in charge of the large cone-shaped candelabrum (on the right of the Grotto, near the baths) to be burnt later. Some of the candles are kept in a special store to be burnt during the cold winter months thus perpetuating the pilgrims' prayers long after they have returned to their own countries.

The fast-flowing Gave de Pau River running past the banks of the Grotto

At the time of the apparitions, there were deposits of mud, sand, gravel, and debris on the floor of the Grotto laid down during flooding when the Gave de Pau River overflowed its banks. Dead branches, pieces of wood and animal bones left behind after flooding scattered everywhere. In front of the grotto, there was a canal flowing down from the Savy mill and the adjacent sawmill. The canal ran into the Gave de Pau River further down. The Grotto was used as a natural shelter which provided protection for the fishermen and hunters of the area during adverse weather conditions. Since the apparitions, the Grotto has been cleaned up and restored several times. In 1955, the interior of the Grotto was lowered more than a metre and paved with grey marble slabs. A simple plain stone altar for the celebration of masses and other religious events stands in the center of the Grotto. There is a petition box behind the altar where pilgrims can place their prayer intentions. Whatever their petitions may be, they will be kept strictly confidential.

During the thirteenth apparition on 2 March 1858, Our Lady said to Bernadette, "Go and tell the priests to build a chapel here." When Bernadette conveyed Her request to Father Peyramale, he said, "Ask her for her name and tell her to make the wild rose bush in the Grotto bloom. We will build her a big chapel if she tells you her name and makes the rose bush flower." Hence the rose bush in the Grotto is a reminder of the 'sign' required by Father Peyramale. At the back of the grotto, to the left of the altar (see picture below), is the spring which Bernadette discovered during the ninth apparition on 25 February 1858. It is covered by an illuminated glass pane. Today, the spring water is channelled towards the taps and baths and is therefore readily available to everyone. The work was carried out by Father Joseph Mailhet, an eminent hydrogeologist, in February 1949.

During the ninth apparition on 25 February 1858, Our Lady said to Bernadette to "Go and drink at the spring and wash in it." The spring now feeds the water taps on the left of the Grotto and the baths on the right. Today, there are 34 drinking taps where the pilgrims can drink and wash their face in the spring waters according to the wishes of Our Lady.

There is a large forecourt in front of the Grotto covering an area of 27 square metres where pilgrims can gather together to pray, attend religious ceremonies, or just reflect quietly. To make space for the forecourt, the Gave de Pau River was diverted twice and a strong protective embankment was built. The canal in front of the Grotto which Bernadette crossed on 11 February 1858 is no more and its original location is marked by a stone slab. The spot where Bernadette stood when Our Lady appeared to her for the first time is also marked by a paving slab. Despite the changes that have been made to the Grotto, it still preserves its original simple and humble appearance.

The Grotto of Massabielle is a place for prayers and quiet contemplation. The silent personal prayers and private joy of being close to God which Bernadette experienced during the apparitions is now shared by millions of pilgrims who come to pray at the Grotto every year. More than 150 years ago, Bernadette met Our Lady at the Grotto and today pilgrims come face-to-face with Her statue, placed on the exact spot where She appeared to Bernadette 18 times from 11 February 1858 to 16 July 1858.

Pilgrims from around the world usually flock to Lourdes during the summer months to pray at the Grotto.

"Go and tell the priests that the people are to come here in procession," Our Lady said to Bernadette during the thirteenth apparition on 2 March 1858. Today, the Blessed Sacrament Procession is held at 5.00 p.m. daily and the Marian Torchlight procession takes place at 9.00 p.m. each evening in the area surrounding the Grotto during the pilgrimage season from April to October. At the Grotto, masses in different languages are celebrated at different times, one after another, throughout the day (please check the current mass schedule for mass times). Here, the frail Pope John Paul II knelt in prayer despite his unsteady legs and greeted the ailing pilgrims during his pilgrimage to Lourdes on 14 August 2004 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the promulgation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Here, Pope Benedict XVI knelt and offered prayers to the Virgin Mary on 13 September 2008 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette. Here, the most Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the poor girl from the Cachot 18 times. Here, God reaches out to us, poor sinners, seeking healing, inner peace, and hope. It is indeed a special privilege to be here - at the Grotto of Massabielle! 

And it was here that my French story began. I vow to devote the rest of my life to improve on my French after I have completed my Ph.D. program. To me, French is the most beautiful language in the world. Why French? Because it makes me feel closer to the Grotto of Massabielle. Each time I take out a French book to read, my mind drifts to the Grotto of Massabielle - to the exact spot where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette and I couldn't help feeling that I am already there - at the Massabielle Grotto with Our Lady.

You may also like to read THE MUSEUM OF LOURDES, THE BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, THE VALUE OF SUFFERING, and THE MESSAGE OF 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 Publications.

2.  Lourdes & Bernadette. Publisher "il Calamo".

3.  Discover Lourdes. MSM.

4.  Lourdes: From Vision to Pilgrimages. MSM.

5.  The New American Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers.