Why Is Lourdes In France Such A Popular Place For Christians?

Lourdes is one of the largest Catholic pilgrimage locations in the world. It lies in the south of France near to the Pyranees and has a current population of around 17,000. In February 1858, a 14-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubirous, claimed she had a vision of the Blessed Virign Mary at a grotto. She alleged she received 18 apparitions in total over the next few months, in which the Virgin Mary performed miracles and gave Bernadette messages, presenting herself as the "Immaculate Conception". After initially being sceptical of the apparitions, the Catholic Church confirmed them as authentic and pilgrims from across the world began to visit the grotto. Bernadette suffered badly from asthma and cholera and died at the age of 35 as a nun in the Notre Dame order of Nevers. She was made a saint in 1933.

Since 1860, an estimated 200 million people have visited the shrine, which, to them, is a place of prayer and healing. It remains a popular place for pilgrimages, particualrly from March to October. The Catholic Church officially recognises 67 miracle healings as a result of vists to Lourdes.

People go to Lourdes to show commitment to God/ be healed/ be forgiven for their sins. They bathe in the holy waters/drink of the spring where Bernadette Soubiroux (Our Lady of Lourdes) saw visions of the Virgin Mary (in the story, Mary refers to herself as the 'immaculate conception'). The first miracle reported was that of a paralysed woman who, after bathing in the springs, regained the used of her limbs. Since then, over 66 miracles have been recorded in the last 144 years and another 6,000 cures have been claimed. Nearly 7million christians visit Lourdes each year.
Some info on Lourdes in General :) >>>>
-Small french villiage
-only has 17,000 inhabitants
-christian pilgimage site

Hope this helps!
:))

The pilgrimage of Lourdes is founded on the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to a poor, fourteen-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubiroux. The first apparition occurred 11 February, 1858. There were eighteen in all; the last took place 16 July, of the same year. Bernadette often fell into an ecstasy. The mysterious vision she saw in the hollow of the rock Massabielle was that of a young and beautiful lady. "Lovelier than I have ever seen" said the child. But the girl was the only one who saw the vision, although sometimes many stood there with her. Now and then the apparition spoke to the seer who also was the only one who heard the voice. Thus, she one day told her to drink of a mysterious fountain, in the grotto itself, the existence of which was unknown, and of which there was no sign, but which immediately gushed forth. On another occasion the apparition bade Bernadette go and tell the priests she wished a chapel to be built on the spot and processions to be made to the grotto. At first the clergy were incredulous. It was only four years later, in 1862, that the bishop of the diocese declared the faithful "justified in believing the reality of the apparition". A basilica was built upon the rock of Massabielle by M. Peyramale, the parish priest. In 1873 the great "national" French pilgrimages were inaugurated. Three years later the basilica was consecrated and the statue solemnly crowned. In 1883 the foundation stone of another church was laid, as the first was no longer large enough. It was built at the foot of the basilica and was consecrated in 1901 and called the Church of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII authorized a special office and a Mass, in commemoration of the apparition, and in 1907 Pius X extended the observance of this feast to the entire Church; it is now observed on 11 February.

Never has a sanctuary attracted such throngs. At the end of the year 1908, when the fiftieth anniversary of the apparition was celebrated, although the record really only began from 1867, 5297 pilgrimages had been registered and these had brought 4,919,000 pilgrims. Individual pilgrims are more numerous by far than those who come in groups. To their number must be added the visitors who do not come as pilgrims, but who are attracted by a religious feeling or sometimes merely by the desire to see this far-famed spot. The Company of the Chemins de Fer du Midi estimates that the Lourdes station receives over one million travellers per annum.  

Christians especially Catholics make a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes or the Marian Shrine in Lourdes. There is also a spring located there which is believed to contain healing properties. Part of the pilgrimage involves the drinking of the spring water or bathing in the holy spring which originates in the grotto. The grotto was the place where the apparitions took place.

The story goes that a 14 year old poor girl saw visions, a total of 18, in which she was visited by the blessed virgin. The girls name was Bernadette Soubiroux and she saw these apparitions between the 11th of February and the 16th of July in the year 1858. She was at first not believed as she was the only one who saw these visions. The church only agreed to believe these apparitions four years after they actually occurred. Bernadette was later canonised and was known as Saint Bernadette.

In one of her apparitions the Virgin asked that people come for pilgrimage to the grotto. This fact led to the establishment of the Hospitalite Notre-Dame de Lourdes.

They go there to pray and to be healed by the miraculous healing qualities of the water which flows from the spring. (more straight to the point =P)

Lourdes is such a popular place for christians because people have claimed that there have been miracles and there were about 600 cases of where people have been claimed to be cured from a illness

People pray and get holy water poured over their head from the river, which is known for the reason of the miracles then they say a short special latin prayer: 'Contrien Clara Biena retrienne,'

There is a good film called the song of bernadette. Its an oldie and in black and white, but I promise you it will give you a deeper understanding of its significance. My sons watched it when they were 14 and  they have watched it several times since. They are now in their late 20s. Its a story of hope devotion and strength of faith. When all seems hopeless in your life the story of lourdes will give you inspiration. Even non believers have been silenced by it.

They go to be healed, I wish I could go, sometimes my back really hurts from all the dancing I have to do to keep dinner on the table for my daughter and me, sometimes if I say an extra rosary it seems to help, but I wish I could get some of that water, I know if I rubbed it on my back or drank it I'd be cured forever.

Does anyone know anything more in detail about what you do at lourdes? From my research I have found out that they do drink holy water from the spring from heaven but I was wondering what exactly people do at Lourdes. If any of you know can you tell me?, thanks x

There is a Shrine at Lourdes with a pool. When the water stirs in the pool, people have received miraculous healings. The place became holy after it was visited by the Virgin Mary, and The child she appeared to, was instructed to dig into the earth there, uncovering a spring. Please click on a star next to the sords RATE THIS ANSWER, please, this will help me get credit for my answer thanks a bunch...*p

It is lourdes and you fall down and break your head

People pray

Its easy they go to be on a break from there usuall life derrr

I wish I knew, I've got to study it for an re assessment :'( I appreciate help x x

They go there to give "veneration" (worship) to Mary.  Something that we Christians should not do, as we should only worship God.

It is important to catholics, and is reputed to be a place of healing. A peasant girl, St Bernadette, saw a vision of the Virgin Mary there. Afterwards healing powers were claimed for the waters of the spring there.

St. Burnadette saw the ghost of Mary The Mother Of Jesus. Now people bave in the river because it is known to cure them of their illnesses.