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| These pictures are quite old but should give you a good idea of Lourdes. The above is the Sick and the Cross Way. The view shows the three churches built one on top of the other and all three are over the Grotto where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. |
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| Moving around to the right reveals the tranquil icy waters of the Gave river which separates the town proper from the Shrine Area. |
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| This is the side view. I placed an arrow to clearly indicate the location of the Grotto. One experiences a profound sense of peace in this environment. |
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| This is the actual Grotto where Our lady appeared multiple times. The natural stone has been worn smooth in places from the touching of countless millions of pilgrims who have filed through |
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The sanctuary of the Basilica.. |
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| This is a view of the castle on the hill from the Basilica |
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| The torchlight procession files by the illuminated Basilica. |
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| The St Pius X undergound Basilica. It is on your left as you walk towards the triple churches. It is oval ~600 ft long and ~240 ft wide and can hold 20,000 people. |
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| St Bernadette in her Shrine at Nevers France. See also Medjugorje |
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Lourdes Stations of the Cross |
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On the Town side of the bridge, commercialism flourishes |
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| The Song of Bernadette
is considered one of the greatest novels of simple and triumphant religious faith to be
published in the twentieth century. How the book came to be written is itself an
inspirational miraculous story in its own right. In June 1940, famed Austrian author Franz
Werfel and his beautiful wife, Alma Mahler, were on a desperate flight across France,
seeking to escape certain death at the hands of the Nazi invaders. Franz had written many
articles and given many radio speeches denouncing their tyranny. Repeatedly thwarted in
their attempts to cross the French border into neutral Spain, they found temporary refuge
in the small town of Lourdes, home of the famous shrine where the virtuous Bernadette
received visions of the Virgin Mary and where millions came in faith to seek a miracle.
During his time in Lourdes, Werfel became fascinated with Bernadette's story, and then, as
his faith grew, he began to visit the sacred grotto every day, taking the waters and
swearing an oath that, should he and his wife be granted escape from the Nazis, he would
write the story of Bernadette for all the world to savor. Franz prayers were answered. In
a harrowing ascent over the Pyrenees mountains, he and Alma fled to Spain and then on to
America. Once there Franz kept his promise. He wrote The Song of Bernadette, his
masterpiece, a beautiful fusion of faith and craft The Video is available at the OLOF Library. |
| Photos by Roy Ehman |