Our Lady of Lourdes, ora pro nobis!

Pope Pius XII, commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the Immaculate conception dogma, announced a Marian year, the first one on Church history. In his encyclical Fulgens Corona, he described the events in Lourdes as follows:
It seems that the Blessed Virgin Mary herself wished to confirm by some special sign the definition, which the Vicar of her Divine Son on earth had pronounced amidst the applause of the whole Church. For indeed four years had not yet elapsed when, in a French town at the foot of the Pyrenees, the Virgin Mother, youthful and benign in appearance, clothed in a shining white garment, covered with a white mantle and girded with a hanging blue cord, showed herself to a simple and innocent girl at the grotto of Massabielle. And to this same girl, earnestly inquiring the name of her with whose vision she was favored, with eyes raised to heaven and sweetly smiling, she replied: "I am the Immaculate Conception."

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Some Photos from Lourdes

Today being the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, it seemed appropriate to share some photos I took this summer in Lourdes--the site where Our Lady told St. Bernadette "I am the Immaculate Conception."

The Basilica--the golden crown is spectacular! 

 

A shot from the interior. There are actually three basilicas on site. 

Lourdes is filled with engravings honoring Our Lady for prayers answered and miracles granted.

A side shrine to St. Peter in the basilica; you can see many more engravings commemorating miracles granted.

Many pilgrims come seeking healing from the spring water.

Pilgrims line up to collect water from the springs (left) and to visit the grotto (right)

The women's baths--especially for pilgrims seeking healing. (Don't worry; those dudes aren't going in.)

Yours truly and the Mrs. on the steps of the basilica. And before you make fun of the shoes, I've tried doing a pilgrimage in wingtips before. It landed me a lot of blisters and shin splints. 

One of my favorite parts of the shrine is the statue of Our Lady--adorned with many flowers presented by fellow pilgrims.

The streets of Lourdes

Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes where she appeared to St. Bernadette

The grotto where our Lady appeared

While it was difficult to get a photo encompassing the campus, you can see how the basilica was built directly above the grotto

The Karlens in front of the grotto

We estimate that we joined about 15,000 pilgrims for an hour-long Rosary procession (in a variety of languages). This procession stands along side a general audience with Pope Benedict among the most incredible experience of my life.

A group selfie during the procession.

Following the procession, we visited the grotto and lit candles to offer with our intentions.

Laura places a candle among the thousands burning in honor of Our Lady.