On February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, a young, poor, and sick girl, in the grotto of Massabielle, close to Lourdes in France.

Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette that same year. During the ninth vision, Our Lady told Bernadette to drink of a mysterious, unseen spring within the grotto. Bernadette scratched at the ground and a spring immediately bubbled up and soon gushed forth. In another apparition, the Blessed Mother revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception and asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France is the most visited pilgrimage site in the world. Many sick people have bathed themselves in the healing waters of the spring in hopes of obtaining help from the generous Mother of God.

Her feast day is February 11th.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us.