Description
LOURDES MYSTERIES – PRINT 3.5 x 5.5 Inches. Made in Italy.
The “mysteries” of Lourdes refer to the 18 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 in a damp, rocky grotto called Massabielle in France. These events are considered a profound “message” from heaven, focusing on themes of prayer, penance, conversion, and the special role of Mary as the Immaculate Conception.
Key meanings and messages of the Lourdes apparitions include:
“I am the Immaculate Conception”: During the 16th apparition, Mary revealed her identity with this phrase, which confirmed the dogma of her conception without original sin, proclaimed just four years prior in 1854.
The Message of Prayer and Penance: Mary repeatedly asked for prayer, particularly the Rosary, and for penance (conversion of heart) for sinners.
The Miraculous Spring: Mary instructed Bernadette to dig in the dirt of the grotto, resulting in a spring of water that still flows today, associated with countless physical and spiritual healings.
God’s Choice of the Humble: Mary appeared to a poor, uneducated girl in a place used as a “pigs’ shelter,” symbolizing that God chooses the lowliest to reveal His mercy.
Symbolism of the Apparitions: The 18 meetings are often interpreted as acting out the 15 mysteries of the Rosary (Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious), with Bernadette under Mary’s direction, reflecting on the life of Christ.
A Call for a Chapel and Processions: Mary requested that a chapel be built at the grotto and that people come in procession, establishing the site as a major center for pilgrimage.
The apparitions were declared authentic by the local bishop in 1862. Today, Lourdes is a symbol of hope, healing, and faith, particularly for the sick and suffering
