Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

On Thursday, February 11, 1858, 14 year old Bernadette Soubirous was out gathering firewood with her sister and a friend at the Grotto of Massabielle outside Lourdes, when she reportedly had the first of 18 visions.

When Bernadette asked, the beautiful Lady responded, "I am the Immaculate Conception".

The Lady told Bernadette: "Go, tell the priests to come here in procession

and to build a chapel here."

In the Summer of 1999, I was 7 months pregnant with my 5th child. I journeyed with my mom, two sisters, niece and sister-in-law to this place, where we washed in the water and we prayed the rosary as hundreds processed in honor of our Lady. It is a place of healing. It is a place of forgiveness. It is a place of prayer.