February 11 The Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, recalling a series of 18 appearances that the Virgin Mary made to a 14-year-old French peasant girl, Saint Bernadette Soubirous, beginning on this date in 1858. On February 25, 1858, the lady who had been appearing told Bernadette to drink the water from a spring that flowed under her rock. As there seemed to be no spring, Bernadette dug in the dirt. Nothing happened, but a day or so afterwards water started to flow. Bernadette drank it and washed in it and others did the same, and the water acquired a reputation for healing properties. Since then, there have been 69 official healings associated with Lourdes, not all with the water, and countless other claims of healing and miracles. It is estimated that since 1860, 200 million pilgrims have come to Lourdes, with about 6 million coming annually.

Today, on the World Day of Prayer for the Sick, let us pray for the health of all who are sick, for their caretakers, and especially for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!