The water of Lourdes

1- A history of the source of the water of Lourdes

2- From a muddy pool to a miraculous spring

3- The water of Lourdes at the heart of the Sanctuary's rites

4- What you need to know about the water of Lourdes

5- The benefits of the water of Lourdes

6- Medical opinion

7- The healings attributed to the water of Lourdes that have not been recognized

8- The abuses of the water of Lourdes denounced by the Church

The international sanctuary of Lourdes in the Pyrenees is the main place of pilgrimage in France. It brings together Catholics from all over the world. The apparitions of Our Lady Mary in the grotto of Lourdes, where Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, are the source of much of the fervour of Christians who go to the sanctuary of the grotto of Massabielle.

However, of all the great pilgrimage sites in the world, Lourdes has a special feature: it has a spring whose origin was revealed by the 'Lady' herself (as Bernadette called her) to the young girl.

This miraculous spring is one of the additional mysteries of the sacred place that is the sanctuary of Lourdes: from a muddy spring where Bernadette had to repeat four times to take her first sip of water, we now have a spring with a flow rate of 32 m3 per year.

What is the history of this spring since it sprang up in 1858? What are the virtues attributed to it? What are its various uses?

A history of the source of the water of Lourdes

The appearance of this spring is a unique feature of the great places of pilgrimage. One of the elements that characterise this place is the spring in the grotto which gushed out under Bernadette's hands on 25th February 1858.

From a muddy pool to a miraculous spring

On 11th February 1858 Bernadette Soubirous, accompanied by her sister and a friend, went to collect wood near the Gave de Pau. She saw a "Lady dressed in white with a white dress, a white veil and a blue belt". This was the first apparition of the one who would present herself to Bernadette as the Immaculate Conception. The young girl repeated her visits to the grotto and Our Lady Mary spoke to her. A dialogue began.

25 February was the day of the ninth apparition: "the Lady" asked Bernadette to scrape the earth at the back of the grotto and told her to "go to the spring to drink and wash". In the early days, this spring was nothing more than a muddy pool of water, which nevertheless aroused the curiosity of the Christians. They flocked to accompany Bernadette on each of her visits to the grotto.

On 1 March 1858, Catherine Latapie, a woman with a paralysed hand, went to the spring driven by an irresistible force. After dipping her hand into the water, which was still mixed with the earth, Catherine's hand became supple and mobile again.

Very quickly, word of this miracle spread: the spring was called the 'miraculous spring'.

This first miracle was recognised in 1862 by the highest Catholic authorities. It was the first official miracle of Lourdes in which the water of the spring played an important role.

The water of Lourdes at the centre of the sanctuary rites

Every pilgrim who comes to the sanctuary of Lourdes has the opportunity to perform the ritual gestures of this place: drinking water from the spring, washing one's face.

Thanks to a place set up right next to the sanctuary, it is also possible to completely immerse oneself in it. In fact, the water pools of Lourdes can receive any person who wishes to immerse himself. For the seriously ill, there is also a system. Anyone who wishes can bathe in this water of special significance.

What you need to know about the water of Lourdes

This miraculous water arouses much enthusiasm, and many pilgrims leave the sanctuary with a flask of Lourdes water. However, it is necessary to remember some truths about it.

The water of Lourdes is not blessed water, in fact no priest intervenes to bless it.

Bernadette Soubirous, seeing the craze for the miraculous spring, said one day: "We take water as a medicine, this spring would have no virtue without faith". If we interpret her thought, we understand that the main virtue of the water of Lourdes lies in the faith that believers have in the sanctuary of Lourdes itself, where they recognise a divine intervention.

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The benefits of the water of Lourdes

The medical opinion

Each of the seventy miracles officially recognised by the Church has been recognised by a long and complicated process involving doctors and authorities of the Catholic Church.

In addition to these recognised miracles, doctors give their opinion on what happens in Lourdes. For example, the American rheumatologist Esther Sternberg points out that a place like the sanctuaries that is imbued with "emotion and compassion" cannot fail to have a beneficial effect on the brain and the immune system. It can play a role in the healing of the sick.

In turn, Professor Montagnier, a great specialist in water research, does not note any particular properties of Lourdes water. He has worked on the memory of water, its structure and its electromagnetic role. He stressed that analyses of Lourdes water do not reveal any particular properties. However, he stated that diseases cause electromagnetic changes in the human body... perhaps a way forward.

The cures attributed to the water of Lourdes that have not been recognised

The process of recognising miraculous healings at Lourdes is a long, demanding and complicated one. People regularly claim to have been miraculously healed. However, the miraculous nature of these cures is not recognised as an official cure. In fact, the process of recognising a miracle is a long and tedious one.

Nevertheless, there are some 7000 known healings attributed to the sanctuary of Lourdes.

The latest proclaimed and publicised cure was that of the well-known singer Shakira. The Colombian-born artist experienced voice problems in 2017. These were followed by the cancellation of concerts and her tour. This situation caused Shakira a deep depression. In 2018, Shakira went to the sanctuary of Lourdes. A few months later, she was able to sing again. For her and those around her, this recovery and return to the stage is miraculous.

The abuse of the water of Lourdes denounced by the Church

The water of Lourdes is available and free. Several products containing Lourdes water are marketed. The communication around these products is based on the presence of Lourdes water from which they are made. Thus, creams made with Lourdes water, sweets, soaps, jewellery containing a drop of Lourdes water and all sorts of other products derived from it are sold.

The Church regularly expresses its disagreement with this commercial exploitation. As Bernadette Soubirous said, this water is not a medicine, but its virtue lies in the faith one has in it.

Today, the water of Lourdes remains the focus of special attention. Every pilgrim who goes to the sanctuaries wants to go to the spring. Most of them take home a bottle or a small flask. This devotion and faith is what we must remember about the mystery of the source of the water of Lourdes.

Prayer for the water of Lourdes

Lord, we come to you today to thank you for the blessings of the water of Lourdes.

We thank you for the many miracles that have occurred through it and for the physical and spiritual healing that it brings to so many people. We ask you to continue to bless this water and to protect it from all harm.

We also ask you to bless all pilgrims who come to Lourdes to seek healing and comfort, and to guide them on their spiritual journey. We ask you to protect the volunteers and carers who care for the pilgrims, and to bless them for their dedication and love.

We thank you for all the blessings you have given us through the water of Lourdes and we entrust our lives and health to you.


Amen