French officials have prevented schools from taking pupils for free to a musical about Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, claiming it would contravene rules on keeping all religion out of education. The show’s producers were informed by mail that it was being excluded from a “pass culture” scheme that allows teachers to take groups to cultural Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Lourdes’
Half Lourdes chapels damaged by fire
Thursday, July 14th, 2022
A devastating fire at three Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes chapels in France badly damaged the famous healing shrine last weekend. The blaze that burned through Saturday night until the early hours of Sunday morning destroyed three of the seven “Chapels of Light” that were added to the Marian shrine in 2018. No one Read more
Lourdes launches online pilgrimage
Monday, July 6th, 2020
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is organising an online pilgrimage and crowdfunding drive to try to make up a US$9 million deficit. “Lourdes needs the world, and the world needs Lourdes,” said Monsignor Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The online pilgrimage, entitled “Lourdes United”, will take Read more
Pickpocketing on the rise in Lourdes, authorities caution pilgrims
Thursday, October 31st, 2019As reports of theft are on the rise at a famous Marian shrine in France, Lourdes authorities have increased security and encouraged pilgrims to be more aware of their belongings. Pierre Aurignac, a local prosecutor, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the town has had a “statistical explosion” of pickpocketing. So far this year, he said, Read more
Envoy compares Medjugorje message with Lourdes and Fatima
Monday, October 8th, 2018
The Papal envoy to Medjugorje, Archbishop Henryk Hoser, says the Medjugorje message (allegedly delivered by Our Lady) can be “put at the same level as those delivered in Lourdes and Fatima.” “With regard to the international phenomenology, they are very similar,” Hoser says. “These [Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorje] are certainly the three greatest pilgrimage sites. Read more
Bishop Moth jumps out of plane at 15,000ft
Thursday, September 20th, 201860-year-old Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton had fulfilled his pledge to go skydiving and had completed the task successfully and unharmed. Bishop Moth jumped from a plane at 15,000 feet to raise money to take ailing pilgrims to Lourdes. Continue reading
Slain French gendarme compared to Joan of Arc
Thursday, April 5th, 2018
Arnaud Beltrame, the French gendarme who died saving hostages’ lives at a supermarket siege last week, was given a state funeral in Paris. In tribute to Beltrame, President Emmanuel Macron made reference to Joan of Arc, members of the French resistance and others who had died for the country. Beltrame, who was a devout Catholic, Read more
French nun speaks of her miracle at Lourdes
Thursday, February 15th, 2018
The French nun whose recovery from decades of debilitating back pain has been declared a “miracle” has spoken of the day she stood up, removed a brace from her foot and walked normally. For half her 68 years, Sister Bernadette Moriau had suffered from acute sciatic nerve trouble, making it hard for her to walk. Read more
Miracle at Lourdes
Monday, February 12th, 2018A new miracle at Lourdes was confirmed on Sunday by a French bishop. Bishop Jacques Benoit-Gonin declared the cure of a Catholic nun who was an invalid for nearly four decades and recovered after making a pilgrimage to Lourdes a miracle. It was the 70th miraculous recovery attributed to divine intervention in Lourdes. Benoit-Gonin of Read more
Lourdes security tightened for Assumption
Friday, August 12th, 2016Lourdes security measures are being stepped up for next week’s feast of the Assumption after a series of recent terrorist attacks in France. The prefect of the Pyrénées region, Beatrice Lagarde, says the authorities even considered cancelling the Mass and procession next Monday, which is normally attended by 25,000 people. Read more