The Nativity Museum in Lourdes

Those who have been to Lourdes would probably still remember the Musee de la Nativite or Museum of the Nativity (Nativity Museum) as there were lots of things to see in this beautiful museum. Located at 21 Quai Saint Jean, 65100 Lourdes, the Nativity Museum was devoted to one of the most popular themes in Christianity, namely the birth of Jesus. Visitors to this museum were always busy taking photos because there were so many photos to take. It was an extremely interesting museum with so much to learn that being there for just one day would not be enough.

My tour of the museum began with the biblical scenes depicting the life of Jesus from the annunciation, visitation, the birth of Jesus, and the flight into Egypt to the finding in the temple. These scenes from the life of Jesus, as told by the New Testament, were beautifullly illustrated and displayed in the museum through a series of fourteen tableaux.

The Annunciation

In a dream, an angel appeared to Joseph to convince him that he should trust Mary

The Nativity of Jesus Christ

On the way to Bethlehem

The Flight into Egypt

The Finding in the Temple

Want to know what life was like in Palestine during the days when Jesus walked on earth? The Nativity Museum provided some good answers to this question through its scale model, a physical representation portraying the Jewish Palestine in the time of Jesus. It should be noted that during the days of Jesus, Palestine was part of the Roman Empire. During those days, Jewish Palestine was ruled by Herod the Great.

Life in Palestine as Jesus would have known it

Palestine in the time of Jesus

Workers and trades in the time of Jesus

How people made a living in Biblical times

Occupations and trades in Jesus' time

Life in Biblical Times

On the ground floor, there were a number of animated diorama automatons illustrating the daily lives of the inhabitants of the Pyrenees in the 19th Century. These realistic scenes of the Pyrenees could really take us back to the past. That was what Lourdes was like during the apparitions.

How the inhabitants of the Pyrenees made a living in the 19th Century

The Pyrenees at the time of the apparitions

Occupations and trades in the Pyrenees during the 19th Century

Life in the Pyrenees in the 19th Century

The Pyrenees in the 19th Century

Trades in the Pyrenees in the 19th Century 

My visit to the Nativity Museum ended with two beautiful life-size Biblical scenes, namely, the Nativity of Jesus and the Flight into Egypt.

The Nativity of Jesus Christ

The Flight into Egypt

It was a great privilege to visit the Nativity Museum because it was so unique and interesting with so much to see and learn. It has always been one of my favorite museums. However, I was shocked to learn that the museum has been closed permanently when I visited its website recently after reading the article entitled One in 8 museums may permanently close due to the pandemic - Insider.

Permanently closed? I can't believe it.

I do not know for what reason it shut down but I hope that it would reopen again one day. What is left now are the photos that I took in this museum and I am writing this article to tell the whole world that this beautiful museum once existed and will always live in our hearts. And I am also looking forward to its reopening in the future. Lastly, let us pray that the coronavirus pandemic would be over soon and everything would go back to normal again.

To find out more about the numerous museums in Lourdes, please read The Museum 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.

THE MUSEUM OF LOURDES

Lourdes is well-known for its numerous museums. These include the Cachot, Musée de Lourdes (Museum of Lourdes), Museum of Saint Bernadette, Nativity Museum, Castle Fort Pyrenean Museum, Petit Lourdes Museum, Musee de Cire Lourdes, Grevin Museum, Gemmail Museum, Moulin Lacade - Maison Paternelle de Sainte Bernadette (Lacade Mill), Moulin de Boly - Maison Natale de Bernadette (Boly Mill) and The Way of the Cross.

Located at 11 rue de  l'égalité, 65100 Lourdes, Musee de Lourdes or the Museum of Lourdes (Lourdes Museum) delved into the history of Lourdes and has provided a good presentation of 19th Century everyday life in Lourdes. In this treasure house of great knowledge, visitors could travel back in time to the past and discover how the modest country-town of Lourdes looked like during the time of the apparitions when Bernadette Soubirous was only fourteen years old. They could also see the traditional skills and crafts, the ancestral trades and occupations, the old streets of Lourdes with the old shops and houses, as well as the clothing style and the lifestyle in Lourdes during that era. Needless to say, the Lourdes Museum was an ideal place to learn about the history, civilization, beliefs, morals, art and architecture of ancient Lourdes. The life-size reconstruction of this little French town has enabled the visitors to gain valuable insights into the social, cultural, economic, political and religious practices of the inhabitants of this miraculous place more than 150 years ago.

I love Lourdes and I love the Lourdes Museum with its vivid illustrations of old Lourdes just the way it was in the time of Bernadette back in 1858. Being in the museum was like a real encounter with what life was in Lourdes during a forgone era. At that instant, I couldn't help placing myself in the shoes of Bernadette and imagining what my life would be like in a different era. It was indeed a very informative museum filled with local knowledge that could make history come alive for the visitors. Needless to say, knowing the history and culture of Lourdes made me appreciate this place even more. In a way, learning about the history and culture of Lourdes has not only brought me closer to this place but also to God. Why? Lourdes rose to prominence because of the apparitions in 1858 and I found it very meaningful to experience what life was like during the apparitions as though I was a part of it albeit for a short while. That kind of experience was like an encounter with God. As I reflected on my own life, I also found peace and tranquility in my heart and soul.

In this article, I would like to share some of the photos which I took in the Lourdes Museum during my visit to this memorable place. Every photo tells a unique story and provides rich insights into the history of Lourdes. They are proof that the Museum of Lourdes was one of the best museums in Lourdes.

A Bigourdan basketmaker

 Women in Nineteenth-Century Lourdes

The baker's oven

Blacksmiths at work

A Bigourdan cabinetmaker

An old village scene in Lourdes

The poor shepherdess, Bernadette Soubirous

The Grotto of Massabielle

The Lourdes Museum was an excellent place for pilgrims and was really worth visiting. Visiting the museum was a great way to find the old Lourdes that has become history. Although some museums may close permanently due to the coronavirus pandemic, I pray that the Lourdes Museum would survive these hard times and continue to be with us forever.

Permanently closed? Hope it's not true.

Thanks for reading. If you like this article, you may also like the other articles about Lourdes. You can find a complete list of these articles here.

LOURDES: THE PIC DU JER AND THE FUNICULAR

The Pic du Jer, which overlooks the town of Lourdes, is a summit in the Hautes Pyrenees. It can be reached by a historic funicular railway in about 15 minutes on a scenic and interesting journey. At an altitude of about 1000 meters, one can get an astounding view of the town of Lourdes, Pau, Tarbes, and the peaks of the Pyrenees from the summit of Pic du Jer. The funicular railway, one of the first to be built in France, was designed by the engineer, Chambrelent, built by Compagnie du Funiculaire  du Pic du Jer, and inaugurated in June 1900. Linking the summit of Pic du Jer to the town of Lourdes at its base, it is a must-visit attraction in Lourdes. Located at 59 avenue Francis Lagardere, 65100 Lourdes, the Pic du Jer is recognizable by its big cross which lights up at night. One can get to it by taking the Little Train of Lourdes from the town of Lourdes.

The Pic du Jer is a good place for hiking, climbing, and mountain biking but as I was not interested in these things, I had rather enjoy myself and relax while admiring the fantastic panorama. Since I went to Lourdes on my own and had two weeks to discover and explore this place, I was free to spend as much time as I wanted on Pic du Jer. It is the kind of place where you can take some time off to experience inner peace, reflect on your life and find your life purpose. There was also something very calming about looking at the shrubs and trees as these could help to relieve stress. What is the 'top of the mountain feeling' like? Once on the summit, there was this kind of rare and wonderful feeling in me which could not be described by words. Standing on the summit and listening to the sound of silence, I had this unique feeling of great elation, deep peacefulness, tranquility and serenity. At that instant, I only wished that I could stay there forever. It was really an unforgettable experience for me.

Inside a historic funicular railway and admiring the stunning views of this pleasant journey

A scenic view of the town of Lourdes on my journey to the summit of Pic du Jer

Riding up the summit along a scenic view

Beautiful mountain views from the train

Scenic view of the Pyrenees from the summit of Pic du Jer

Le Haut de Lourdes - the Restautant of Pic du Jer

View from the top of the world

The town of Lourdes at the base of Pic du Jer

Clouds over the Pyrenees mountain

A beautiful view of natural scenery from the summit

An astonishing view from the summit

Saying goodbye to Pic du Jer with a heavy heart

Descending from the summit of Pic du Jer

Thanks for reading. You may also like to read The Castle of Lourdes, The Cachot, and The Grotto of Massabielle. To view the content page of this blog, please click here. There is a complete list of my articles about Lourdes on this page.

Bartrès and Bernadette

Bartres is a commune in the department of Hautes-Pyrenees in southwestern France. Located about three kilometers from Lourdes, it is a small village with 519 inhabitants (as of 1st January 2016). Bartres is well-known to Catholic pilgrims because this place is associated with the life of St. Bernadette Soubirous who lived for two specific periods of her life. Her first stay in Bartres was about sixteen months, from November 1844 to April 1, 1846. When Bernadette was 10 months old, she was sent there to be fostered by Marie Lagues, a friend of Louise Casterot, Bernadette's mother who could not breastfeed her due to an accident with a candle which burnt her breast. Marie Lagues had just lost her 13-day-old baby and offered to be Bernadette's wet nurse. Bernadette was sent to Bartres by Bernade Casterot, her aunt and godmother. 

Bernadette returned to Bartres in September 1857 when she was 13 to help her former wet nurse, Marie Lague, who needed someone to look after her two-year-old Jean and tend the flock. Bernadette's father, Francois, was without a permanent job with a wife and four children to feed. The Soubirous family was reduced to the direst poverty and had to take shelter in the Cachot (which was formerly a prison cell) where hunger was a daily reality.

Life in Bartres was unremittingly harsh as Bernadette had to do everything, from a shepherdess to maid in the Burg House as well as taking care of little Jean. Marie Lagues was not only very strict but also extremely frugal. Meat was a special occasion food and she only got the chance to taste it at Easter, Christmas and a few other festive days. As for the rest of the time, she had to be contented with maize porridge even though she did not like it.

Bernadette still could not read or write and Marie Lagues tried to teach her the Catechism in the evenings in order to prepare her for Holy Communion. However, she found it very difficult due to the lack of time and her limited learning abilities. She once said to the parish priest in Bartres that it was easier to put the Catechism book in her head than learning Catechism. One day, while tending the flock, she met a friend from Lourdes to whom she entrusted this message" "Tell my parents that I'm tired of being in Bartres. I want to return to Lourdes."

Hardship, loneliness, homesickness, and the wish to prepare herself for Holy Communion induced Bernadette to return to her family in Lourdes on 21 January 1858, to their dwelling place in the Cachot. Cramped in the dark, damp, narrow and smelly dungeon with her family, her life was plagued with extreme poverty. However, on 11 February 1858, Our Lady first appeared to her at the Grotto of Massabielle and the rest was history.

PLACES TO VISIT IN BARTRES

• The sheepfold or shepherd's hut belonged to Marie Lagues where Bernadette looked after the sheep. It has been preserved in its original condition.
• Burg House (the wet nurse's house) which is located in the village itself and in this beautiful farmhouse Bernadette had lived, worked and suffered. This building has been significantly modernized, having been restored after a fire. Only the ground floor kitchen remains intact. 
• The Church of St. John the Baptist which dates back to the end of  the 14th century and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Bernadette used to pray and attend mass there. It has a single nave. Behind the altar which dates from the 17th Century is a triptych depicting three main events in the life of St. John the Baptist, namely the baptism of Jesus, the visitation, and the martyrdom of the baptist.
• The wet-nurse's tomb in the churchyard, to the right of the entrance.

Bartres is a wonderful place to visit because of its simplicity and peacefulness. It has an atmosphere filled with memories and emotions which reminds us of Bernadette, the humble and poor shepherdess of Bartres, who was once alive and walking around the streets in Bartres surrounded by greenery and an abundance of nature.


References:
1.  Lourdes by Antonio Bernardo. Doucet Publications.
2.  Bernadette Recounts Her Apparitions by Antonio Bernardo. Doucet Publications.

Lourdes by Antonio Bernardo is a very interesting book that gives a detailed account of Lourdes and the life of Bernadette.

 Bernadette Recounts Her Apparitions by Antonio Bernardo is one of the most authentic and vivid account of the apparitions in Lourdes by Bernadette herself.

THE PASSION OF BERNADETTE

Bernadette Soubirous 

(7 January 1844 - 16 April 1879)

In April 1858, when the apparitions were still going on, the mayor of Lourdes, Mr. Lacade, offered Bernadette a decent job and accommodation. Bernadette, however, replied without hesitation that she wanted to become a nun. Bernadette's suitor, Raoul de Choisne from Tricqueville, a medical intern in Nantes, was very fond of her and wanted to marry her. However, she declined his proposal of marriage and ignored him completely because she has never thought of getting married. While the Grotto of Massabielle was flourishing with pilgrims after the apparitions, Bernadette did not take the opportunity to make a fortune out of her position as the visionary of Lourdes. Instead, she left Lourdes to enter the convent of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers and dedicated her whole life to God.

Bernadette was the oldest of nine children born to a poor miller and his wife. Five of her brothers and sisters died in infancy. The family of six lived in the Cachot, a damp and unhealthy former prison cell which belonged their cousin, Andre Sajous, who allowed them to stay there out of sympathy. Growing up in poverty, the years of malnutrition has taken a toll on Bernadette's health. At 1.40 metres (4 feet 7 inches) tall, her height was considerably below average. She contracted cholera at the age of 10 when the epidemic broke out in Lourdes and had since suffered from asthma and other illnesses. On 15 July 1860, she suffered another asthma attack and was taken to the hospice of Lourdes where she stayed until her departure for the convent of Saint Gildard in Nevers in 1866. Even though she was suffering from ill health, she continued with her studies at the hospice school and even helped out at the hospice. In March 1862, she was ill with pneumonia and by 28 April 1862, her condition had become so serious that she was given the Extreme Unction. Although she recovered after that, she had to struggle with illness all her life. From 1862 to 1866, she also spent considerable time recuperating in Cauterets, a town in south-western France surrounded by the Pyrenees mountains.

On 3 July 1866, Bernadette secretly dressed as a nun and visited the Grotto for the last time before she left her birthplace and never to return again. That day, she spent the evening with her family for the last time at Lacade Mill (Maison Paternelle de Bernadette). The next morning, her parents and two aunts, Bernarde and Basile, went to the hospice to say goodbye to her. Goodbye Lourdes, Bernadette would never come back again.

When Bernadette and her companions arrived in Nevers at 10 p.m. on 7 July 1866, Mother Marie-Therese Vauzou (the mistress of novices and later Mother Superior), was waiting for them in the parlor. Bernadette suddenly found herself in the presence of a woman who did not believe in apparitions and who would treat her harshly causing her to suffer emotionally throughout the 13 years of her life in the convent. The next day, she was made to recount her apparitions in front of the 300 nuns who lived there - that was the last time she was allowed to talk about the apparitions.

Mother Marie-Therese Vauzou was jealous of Bernadette because of the apparitions and continued to make life difficult for her and abuse her emotionally. "The girl is useless!" - these were the words that Bernadette had to put up with throughout her novitiate. The Saint's life was not a bed of roses as she had to endure more cruelty than the other novices during her novitiate but she willingly and patiently accepted God's will. She would say, "Mother Superior is right... I should try to improve myself" instead of defending herself and showing off that she was the visionary of Lourdes.

On 29 July 1866, Bernadette took the veil and was given the name Sister Marie-Bernard. About two weeks later, she fell ill again and was sent to the convent infirmary. On 25 October 1866, her condition  quickly worsened and the doctor said that she would not make it through the night. As Bernadette was already at the point of death, she had to take her vows in advance. The bishop of Nevers, Monsignor Forcade administered the Extreme Unction to her. As Bernadette was spitting out blood, she was unable to take her vows. The bishop had to recite them for her and Bernadette consented by nodding her head. But she recovered and her condition improved as she was saying "Amen!"

On 12 April 1870, Sister Marthe Forest became seriously ill and was bedridden. Even though Bernadette was often ill, she did not mind taking over her duties and assuming the role of head nurse, a position which she held for three years. On 19 July 1870, the French emperor, Napoleon III, declared war on Prussia. During that time, the convent infirmary was turned into a military hospital. In the months that followed, the convent infirmary was overflowed with sick and badly injured soldiers lying on stretchers. Blood wet the stretchers and the ground. Due to limited access to medical resources, the conditions in the infirmary were very bad and surgeons had to operate without anesthesia. Bernadette assisted them and did her best to help as a caregiver to the sick and wounded soldiers. Capable, efficient, and dedicated, her mere presence was a great comfort for them. Despite her poor health, her soul was filled with peace, joy, and serenity and she was really happy with her life as a nun.

In 1873, she was given the Extreme Unction for the third time because  her tuberculosis worsened but once again she escaped death by a hairbreadth. At the age of 29, she had already received the Extreme Unction three times. Although her right leg was causing her intense pain due to a swelling on her knee, she still managed to attend to her new duties as a sacristan in the chapel. From 1874 onward, Bernadette had been struggling with her illness. Exhausted by asthma and tuberculosis, she once said, "My job is to be sick." In 1875, she was admitted to the convent infirmary as a terminally ill patient and she never recovered again.

On 22 September 1878, Bernadette made her perpetual profession of faith. That was also the time when she had to endure the worst sufferings in her life. Her pulmonary tuberculosis had developed into tuberculosis of the knee with cavities on the bone. "Worn out and weary through her sufferings, she had all wasted away," said Father Cros. "For two years, she was subjected to such pain and torments of bone decay that her poor body became a receptacle for all the suffering in the world," commented Father Febre, the chaplain who supported her faithfully when she became fatally ill. Although many miraculous healings were reported after the apparitions, it seemed that the miracles of Lourdes were not intended for her. As what Our Lady of Lourdes said to her, "I cannot promise you happiness in this life but in the next." It was as though she was chosen to suffer until the day she died as her life was made up of a bitter trial of sufferings.

On 28 March 1879, Bernadette's condition deteriorated further and the Extreme Unction was administered to her for the fourth time. "The Passion of Christ touches me more when I read about it than when somebody describes it to me," Bernadette once said. In a way, her sufferings also mirrored the passion of Jesus, her master, whom she loved dearly with all her heart and soul. Like her master before her, she was dying in the agony of love. On 14 April 1879, she confided in Sister Leontine, "I'm crushed like a grain of wheat. I have never thought that I would have to suffer so much." This clearly showed how she struggled to live with the pain, torment, and sufferings throughout her life. However, despite her whole life of suffering, she remained brave and cheerful till the end.

Bernadette's final months on earth were the most agonizing moments in her life as she continued to suffer intensely until she was on the brink of despair. In the final moments of her life, she laid the crucifix upon her heart and said, "You are hanging on the Cross. Oh! How much I love you, my Jesus." At that instant, it was very obvious that she could see HIM. It was already nearing three o'clock in the afternoon on 16 April 1879 when Bernadette stretched out her arms in pain and cried loudly, "My God!" She then prayed with her companions and had twice repeated the words, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner." As Bernadette was about to breathe her last breath, her companions helped her to get out of bed and sit on an armchair. She asked for a drink, took a few sips, and then bowed her head and gently delivered up her spirit.

Bernadette passed away peacefully at the age of 35 on 16 April 1879 at 3 p.m., the time of Jesus' death. Although she died in great agony, she had accepted her sufferings bravely and willingly in fulfillment of Our Lady's request for penance. The news of her death spread rapidly. Crowds flocked unceasingly to Saint Gildard's Convent to see and venerate the remains of the woman who  did not like popularity and went there "to hide" 13 years ago in the belief that the world would soon forget her.

On 19 April 1879, Bernadette's body was placed in a double coffin of lead and oak and sealed in the presence of witnesses. The body was buried in the vault of a little chapel in the convent grounds dedicated to St. Joseph. However, when her body was exhumed for the first time on 22 September 1909, it was found to be well-preserved and incorrupt. The second exhumation took place on 3 April 1919 and the pathologists who performed the autopsy, Doctor Comte and Doctor Talon, came to similar conclusions as their predecessors. On 18 April 1925, Bernadette's body was exhumed for the third time. According to the autopsy report, her body was in a relatively good state of preservation, there was no smell of body decomposition and her internal organs were in perfect condition. Beatified on 14 June 1925, Bernadette was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 8 December 1933.

Bernadette's memories did not end with her death. Many miracles have been attributed to her. So much has been written about this poor shepherd girl who only wanted to live an ordinary life like everyone else. Today, she lies in a bronze and crystal casket in the chapel of Saint Gildard's Convent in Nevers, where millions of pilgrims come to venerate her every year. Her feast day is celebrated on 16 April.

The message of Our Lady to Bernadette was clear and simple - poverty, prayer, and penance were the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

You may also like to read The Message of Lourdes, The Value of Suffering, and THE WONDERS OF LOURDES: 150 MIRACULOUS STORIES. To view the content page of this blog please click here.


References:
1.  Bernadette Recounts Her Apparitions by Antonio Bernardo. Doucet Publications - Lourdes.
2.  Discover Lourdes. MSM
3.  Lourdes: Apparitions, Message, Pilgrimage. MSM.
4.  Lourdes: From Vision to Pilgrimage. MSM.
5.  Lourdes: History. Doucet Editions.
6.  Lourdes: In Bernadette's Footsteps by Father Joseph Bordes. MSM.

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.