The miller's daughter speaks

Bernadette Soubirous was the daughter of a miller who made an honest living until things took a turn.  One thing led to another and he soon found himself on the brink of bankruptcy, but just when things couldn't get any worse, something happened that has left his family among the most celebrated in the Catholic world.

From the city of Zaragoza, we headed north until we reached the now-famous town of Lourdes, France.  Arriving just before nightfall, we had to negotiate the streets of this bustling place in order to find our accommodations.  Adding to the complication for visitors is the local custom that on the first of each month, by agreed-upon convention, some of the streets are designated one-way.  The problem is that on the 15th of the month, these same streets (while remaining one-way) change direction, so it took a local passer-by who was willing to come aboard our bus to guide us safely to our lodgings.  Little miracles happen every day if we have the eyes to see them.

Like Fatima in Portugal, Lourdes also has the established custom of candlelight processions every evening (usually in the summer months), so after we had been properly fed and watered, at least some of us made our way to the Shrine where we joined the procession.

In at least seven or eight different languages, pilgrims who gather here each evening recite the rosary.  The procession which winds its way around the Shrine grounds is led by an illuminated statue of the Virgin.

As the sun rose on the following morning, we were already celebrating Mass at the grotto, where the apparitions took place.  Most of us hadn't even fully awakened by the time the celebration was complete, but then we had the entire day to spend at leisure in this place which depite the crowds, still boasts narrow streets recalling the time of the Soubirous family, and the now famous Bernadette.

In fact, had it not been for the apparitions which made this place such a sought-after place of pilgrimage, it would still be a hamlet, relatively unknown to most of the world, but then again, that's part of the charm of the place too.

Lourdes has been modernized (somewhat) over the years.  In fact, some would say that parts of it have become overly commercialized (and they would be right) but the heart of the village remains the same.  The local guides are proud to show off their hometown, and do not hesitate to welcome visitors.

In fact, the home of the Soubirous family has now been opened as a kind of museum for visitors, so that we can appreciate it's simplicity, compact nature and get just a taste of what it must have been like for this family who were so much a part of the town.

There once was a stream passing by the miller's house

Inside the Soubirous home

The mill by which Bernadette's father earned his living

Grain would fall from the mill and be ground into flour

The Gave de Pau river which runs through Lourdes

Seemingly in contrast to the tranquility of the old town, the Shrine of Lourdes attracts thousands of visitors each year.

In fact thousands of sick and infirmed have come to Lourdes to pray for healing, and the feastday of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11) has also been designated as the World Day of Prayer for the Sick, and the Holy Father issues a special message each year on that date addressed to the suffering of the world.