Lourdes Pilgrimage

My Lourdes Pilgrimage

A Personal Journey of Faith, Peace, and Prayer
RosarySeeds.com

A Sacred Beginning

When I first heard about Lourdes, I knew it was a place many pilgrims visited. But nothing could prepare me for how deeply this Lourdes pilgrimage would touch my soul.

Lourdes is a small town in the Pyrenees mountains of southwestern France. In 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a 14-year-old girl named Bernadette Soubirous. Through these apparitions, Lourdes became one of the most sacred and visited pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world. Millions of people come each year, many seeking healing—others simply seeking hope.

I didn’t go expecting a miracle. I went because I felt called—called to pray, to reflect, and to grow in my faith.

Through the Pyrenees

Traveling by bus through the Pyrenees was both beautiful and humbling. The winding roads led us through quiet, majestic landscapes that stirred something within me.

These moments of silence on the road helped me slow down, disconnect from the distractions of everyday life, and prepare my heart for what was ahead.

Meeting the Worldwide Church

One of the most powerful things about this Lourdes pilgrimage was witnessing the universality of the Church. Pilgrims from every continent—young, old, strong, frail—walked side by side in faith. Some were in wheelchairs, others walking slowly, many holding Rosaries. Yet we were all there for the same reason: to meet Our Lady at the Grotto and to bring our prayers to Jesus.

There was something profoundly beautiful about seeing complete strangers help one another, offer smiles, or share quiet tears during prayer. It reminded me that our Church is not just global—it's deeply united by love.

Even though the sights are breathtaking and beautiful, it's the experience that is felt when one visits Lourdes.

The Candlelight Rosary Procession

Every evening, thousands of people gather in front of the Basilica for the candlelight procession. Rain or shine, the crowds come. Lines stretch for what feels like miles. People sing and pray the Rosary aloud—in Italian, French, English, Spanish, and many other languages.

When the sun sets and thousands of tiny flames are glowing in the darkness, it feels like heaven is near. We were each given a candle with a protective cone to hold.

As I stood there, I reached over to light a stranger’s candle, and someone behind me did the same for mine. This small act was deeply moving—a quiet, holy connection.

Personal Prayer and Adoration

Lourdes is not just busy processions and crowds. There are also peaceful moments of personal prayer. I visited the three main churches on the grounds:

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the Rosary
The Underground Basilica of St. Pius X

Each was beautiful in its own way, but my favorite time was spent in Adoration. Just sitting with the Lord in silence reminded me why I came. I lit candles in memory of my mother and father—both now gone—and prayed for their souls, thanking them for the faith they passed down to me. I wished I could tell them about this holy place.

The Grotto and the Healing Spring

The heart of any Lourdes pilgrimage is the Grotto of Massabielle—the site where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette.

This is where I spent the most time praying. Just being there, surrounded by people kneeling in silence, was a holy experience I’ll never forget.

We were able to light candles of all sizes—some the size of walking sticks! The shrine staff tend the flames so they keep burning. I lit two candles here as well, offering prayers for loved ones and those who couldn’t be with me.

Though the traditional healing baths are no longer in use, pilgrims are invited to take part in a “Water Ceremony.” It’s a simple but reverent process:

Water is poured over your hands.
Then you use it to wash your face.
Finally, you drink it.

This reminded me of how healing can come through small, sacred acts—just like grace itself.

A Pilgrimage of the Heart

This Lourdes pilgrimage was not just about visiting a holy place. It became a journey inward. I didn’t experience any dramatic miracles, but I came home with something just as important: peace. A renewed trust in God. A stronger devotion to Mary. And a deepened love for the Rosary.

Pilgrimage is not always about receiving something—it’s often about becoming someone. Someone more open to grace, more aware of others, and more rooted in faith.

March 2 1858
The Lady said: "Go and tell the priests to have a chapel built here: I want people to come here in procession."

Thinking About Your Own Lourdes Pilgrimage?

If you’ve ever thought about making a Lourdes pilgrimage, I encourage you to pray about it. You don’t have to be ill or seeking a miracle. Go because your heart is being drawn closer to Christ. Go to pray. Go to rest. Go to let Our Lady lead you.

Even if you can’t make the journey, you can still bring Lourdes into your life:

Light a candle at home.
Pray the Rosary with intention.
Set aside time for silence and Adoration.
Offer a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer.

Mary’s message is always the same: Come to her Son. And she always walks with us.

Highlight

A Lourdes pilgrimage is more than a trip—it’s a chance to be still, to believe again, and to let the Blessed Mother guide you toward the peace and healing only Christ can give.