The Virgin of Lourdes

The Virgin of Lourdes (Lourdes)

The successive appearances of the Virgin on the northern side of the Pyrenees Mountains near Lourdes during the middle of the 19th century—where She appeared before Bernardette and numerous witnesses, with messages of peace, prayer and instructions to build a shine in Her honour—have made Lourdes one of the principal centres of Marian worship, daily drawing thousands of pilgrims from around the world. Following the Via Crucis, visiting the Basilica and the Grotto of the Virgin, but above all assisting in the nightly candle procession with its Rosary prayer, are unique and unforgettable experiences.

Other Marian Sanctuaries in Spain of great historical and spiritual importance that go back to the Middle Ages are El Pilar (Saragossa), Covadonga (Asturias), Guadalupe (Caceres) and Monserrat (Barcelona).