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| Here I am, I have arrived at Lourdes, here having entered through the St. Michael's gate, with the Basilica in the background.
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| The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, which actually consists, of a Crypt, in addition to 2 other Churches. |
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| Inside the lower Rosary Basilica. Each niche depicts a mystery of the Rosary (sorrowful mysteries seen here.) The mosaic reads in French: Through Mary to Jesus
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| The dome of the Rosary Basilica, with the upper Basilica of the Immaculate Conception behind it. |
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| Inside the upper Basilica, where I said mass.
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| Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the upper Basilica. |
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| View from the Basilica.
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| View of the crowds gathered around the grotto for one of the morning Masses. |
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| Beautiful carving on the lower basilica - Our Lady giving the Rosary to St. Dominic.
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| The Grotto where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. |
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| The many sick coming to visit the Grotto. Also notice that 1 in every 6 people who come to Lourdes is a volunteer who helps the sick.
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| People filling their containers with "Lourdes water" from the miraculous spring Our Lady showed to Bernadette. |
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| The upper Basilica as seen from the grotto below.
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| The Gave River which flows next to the grotto. Note the line of wheelchairs crossing the bridge. |
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| The Basilica seen from a distance.
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| "The Immaculate Conception had a youthful appearance and was clothed in a pure white gown and mantle with an azure blue girdle. A golden rose adorned each of her feet" - Bernadette's words describing Our Lady. |
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| Pilgrims walk through the grotto and touch the rock.
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| A workman refills the tower of candles which burns in from of the Grotto. |
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| Most pilgrims light candles to burn beside the grotto. In addition, they can take a "bath", really just a quick dip in water from the miraculous spring.
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| The basilica towers above the Gave river. |
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| Our Lady of Lourdes is invoked against all bodily ills, and numerous cures have been reported, but there are many spiritual fruits also, such as the prayers and sacraments the pilgrims join in.
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| View of the Basilica in relation to the Grotto, which is in the bottom right corner. |
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| The underground Basilica of St. Pius X, which was built to hold the thousands who come for larger celebrations and feast days. (Our Lady of Lourdes is Feb. 11th).
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| Statue of Our Lady crowned in front of the Basilica. |
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| Statue of St. Bernadette as I begin a tour in her "footsteps".
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| The home at the "Boly Mill" where she was born (Jan. 7, 1844) and lived the first 10 years of her life. |
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| The mill her father owned which was part of there home, unfortunately he was not successful and they were evicted.
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| The parish Church of the Sacred Heart where St. Bernadette's family attended. |
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| Interior of the Church of the Sacred Heart.
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| The baptismal font in the Church where Bernadette was baptized 2 days after she was born. |
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| In front of the Church, a statue of Fr. Peyramale, her parish priest who Bernadette meet about the apparitions.
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| The Cachot - the single room, really an abandoned prison cell, that her family lived in - in destitute poverty - at the time of the apparitions. |
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| Mary had Bernadette make 2 requests to the priest. First that a Church be built, and second that processions would be held.
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| So every day there is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction of the Sick.
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