Dundalk Lourdes Committee

That's it folks. A great week, a very successful week.
Many thanks to all who made this week possible....the management of the Longwalk Shopping Centre Dundalk....our wonderful committee members and Lourdes Volunteers....to Ann C's amazing friends Margaret and Noreen for all their help and our friends in Order Of Malta Ireland - Ambulance Corps Dundalk.
Hope you all have a well deserved rest this weekend.

We have a raffle in the shop too. €2 a line or 3 lines for €5

Good morning. We're open

We're getting for our Pop Up Shop ready in the Longwalk Shopping Centre Dundalk , opening Weds to Saturday and we hope to see you all coming to visit and help us raise funds to take assisted pilgrims to Lourdes next May 2025

THE 18TH AND LAST APPARITION IN LOURDES.
On this day 16th of July 1858 Our Lady appeared to Bernadette at the grotto of Lourdes for the last time.

Bernadette feels once again that irresistible inner compulsion that draws her to the grotto. It is a feeling she knows well. She leaves the cachot, accompanied by Lucile Castérot, the youngest of her aunts, just 20 years old. But this time she knows what to expect and prepares for it. Firstly, she wears borrowed clothes which are a little too big for her, so as not to be recognised. Secondly, she chooses another route not going directly to the grotto.
They do not cross the Gave, remaining on the right bank of the stream.

Bernadette kneels in front of the grotto. Slowly, as the Lady taught her, she makes a sign of the cross. Then she begins to pray the rosary.
On her right is her aunt Lucile and, on her left, two young girls, members of the parish association of the Children of Mary, who each carry a lighted candle in their hands. The night has almost fallen, but in the light of the candles, her three neighbours can see the transfigured face of Bernadette, radiating the happiness of another world.

The Immaculate Virgin is here for the eighteenth time. No words are exchanged. Yet, communion between the Mother of God and the young girl from Lourdes is intense. After this last apparition, Bernadette simply says, “The Lady was more beautiful than ever“.

Bernadette knows that she has just experienced her last meeting on this earth with the Immaculate Virgin.

BEATIFICATION OF ST. BERNADETTE
Today we celebrate the 99th anniversary of the Beatification of St. Bernadette who was beatified on the 14th of June, 1925 by Pope Pius XI.

Bernadette had died on April 16, 1879, at 3.15pm in the afternoon, in the Sainte Croix (Holy Cross) Infirmary of the Convent of Saint-Gildard in Nevers, France. She was thirty-five.

Her body was exhumed 30 years later on the 22nd of September 1909 and it was claimed that although the crucifix in her hand and her rosary had both oxidized, her body appeared incorrupt – preserved from decomposition. This was cited as one of the miracles to support her canonization. She was washed and reclothed before re-burial in the Chapel of St Joseph in a new double casket.

The church exhumed her body a second time 10 years later on the 3rd of April 1919, on the occasion of the approval of Bernadette's canonization.

In 1925, the church exhumed her body for a third time. They took relics, which were sent to Rome. The remains were then placed in a gold and crystal reliquary in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the main church of the convent.

Photos show the Infirmary where Bernadette died, St. Joseph’s Chapel where she was originally laid to rest and Bernadette as she is now in the main church of the convent. I took these photos when I was there earlier this year and would highly recommend a visit.

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TV LOURDES Comme des milliers de pèlerins du monde entier, vous pouvez demander qu’un cierge soit déposé pour vos intentions.Les « feutiers » du Sanctuaire l’allumeront pour vous aux Chapelles de Lumière, face à la Grotte, le lendemain à 16:00/4pm CET.

Mass and meeting this evening for pilgrims going to Lourdes on Sunday 12th May

Please support our friends in Faughart this coming Sunday

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Let us celebrate together the 25th the name they waited for !

Thursday 25th march 1858, the vision finally revealed her name, but the wild rose bush, on which she stood during the Apparitions, did not bloom. Bernadette recounted : “She extended her arms towards the ground, then joined them as though in prayer and said Que soy era Immaculada Concepciou (I am the Immaculate Conception)”. The young visionary left and, running all the way, repeated continuously the words that she did not understand. These words troubled the brave Parish Priest. Bernadette was ignorant of the fact that this theological expression was assigned to the Blessed Virgin. Four years earlier, in 1854, Pope Pius IX declared this a truth of the Catholic Faith (a dogma).



©Photo SNDL / Pierre Vincent

The death has taken place of Mary Richardson, beloved Daughter of our Committee Member, Katriona Loughran.

Dundalk Lourdes Committee would like to extend their sympathy to Mary's Husband Robbie, her Mother Katriona, her Children Geordan, Sarah and Zoe, the Loughran & Richardson family circle and Mary's circle of Friends.

Rest in Peace Mary.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for her Soul.

Death Notice of Mary RICHARDSON (née Loughran) (Blackrock, Louth) | rip.ie The death has occurred of Mary RICHARDSON (née Loughran) of Blackrock, Louth Ireland, on 08/03/2024. You can view the full death notice and add your condolences here.

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Le Sanctuaire salue les femmes qui tous les jours œuvrent pour l'accueil des pèlerins du monde entier à . Bénévoles, salariées ou religieuses, elles sont nombreuses à assurer l’accueil et l’accompagnement de tous ceux qui souhaitent répondre à l’appel de Notre-Dame de Lourdes 🙏

En ce 8 mars, le Sanctuaire les remercie !

Célébrons ensemble la 15ème Apparition : 8 000 personnes à la Grotte.

Le jeudi 4 mars 1858, la foule toujours plus nombreuse (environ huit mille personnes) attend un miracle à la fin de cette quinzaine. La vision est silencieuse. Le curé Peyramale campe sur sa position. Pendant vingt jours, Bernadette ne va plus se rendre à la Grotte : elle n’en ressent plus l’irrésistible attrait.

Écoutez le récit de la 15ème Apparition 👉 https://www.lourdes-france.com/plateforme-tv-lourdes/podcasts/

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Célébrons ensemble la 14ème Apparition : le sourire de la Dame.

Le mercredi 3 mars 1858, dès 7 h le matin, en présence de trois mille personnes, Bernadette se rend à la Grotte, mais la vision n’apparaît pas ! Après l’école, elle entend l’invitation intérieure de la Dame. Elle se rend à la Grotte et lui redemande son nom. La réponse est un sourire. Le curé Peyramale lui redit : « Si la Dame désire vraiment une chapelle, qu’elle dise son nom et qu’elle fasse fleurir le rosier de la Grotte » 🙏

Écoutez le récit de la 14ème Apparition 👉 https://www.lourdes-france.com/plateforme-tv-lourdes/podcasts/

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On March 2, 1858, Our Lady spoke to Bernadette, "𝙂𝙤, 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙡." Those who have visited Lourdes can easily recognize the images of the Rosary and the Eucharistic Processions that occur daily during the pilgrimage season.

The Rosary is the central element of the Marian Procession with the singing of the Ave Maria de Lourdes. The torchlit procession began, it seems, with the very origins of the pilgrimage, when the children of Mary came on Saturday after vespers, a candle in hand, to recite the Rosary at the Grotto.

Since the Middle Ages, Eucharistic Procession has been a form of veneration of the Body of Christ. At Lourdes, the procession is the oldest of the Sanctuary. It is a threefold affirmation: affirmation of the Real Presence of Christ in the consecrated host, affirmation of our need to see Him whom we love, and affirmation that the Son of God is always among us in our joys and sorrows.

Read more about the Apparitions at:

The Apparitions | Lourdes Volunteers The Apparitions On February 11, 1858, the Mother of God came from Heaven and appeared to a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous in the town of Lourdes in the Pyrenees Mountains in France. Accompanied by her sister and a friend, Bernadette went to the grotto of Massabielle on the banks of the river....

Let us celebrate together the 13th Apparition: message to the priests.

Tuesday 2nd march 1858, the crowd becomes larger and larger. The Lady asked her: “Go and tell the priests that people are to come here in procession and to build a chapel here.” Bernadette spoke of this to Fr. Peyramale, the Parish Priest of Lourdes. He wanted to know only one thing: the Lady’s name. He demanded another test; to see the wild rose bush flower at the Grotto in the middle of winter. 🙏



©Photo SNDL / Pierre Vincent

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏, 𝟏𝟖𝟓𝟖, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞

Over fifteen hundred people assemble, for the first time a priest among them. Catherine Latapie's arm is healed after plunging it into the spring.

Learn more about the Apparitions here: https://lourdesvolunteers.org/the-apparitions/

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On 11th February, the Sanctuary will be celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the date of the first Apparition of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous.

In this year dedicated to prayer, pilgrims from all over the world are invited to join in a day of uninterrupted prayer at the Grotto.

You can take part in the “World Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes” on site, but also remotely through the “Pray with Lourdes” mobile app.

To download the app 📱 https://www.lourdes-france.com/en/application-prier-avec-lourdes/
Discover the programme 👉 https://www.lourdes-france.com/en/programme/

L'Application Prier avec Lourdes - Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes Rejoignez la communauté de prière du Sanctuaire et maintenez chaque jour le lien avec Lourdes : • vivez les célébrations en direct de la Grotte : messes et chapelets quotidiens, live 24h/24h et 7j/7, pèlerinages de Lourdes et évènements exceptionnels• retrouvez … Lire la suite­­

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Les activités proposées par le Sanctuaire de Lourdes permettent aux pèlerins d’un jour qui le souhaitent de découvrir ou redécouvrir la beauté et la simplicité de ce lieu d’apparitions de la Vierge Marie ainsi que la modernité de son message de paix, de réconfort et d’espérance.

Activités proposées ⤵️

🎞️ Film « découverte » du Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes au Centre Information

🇫🇷 9h, 10h suivi de la visite "Découverte du Sanctuaire" tous les jours, autres horaires sur demande
🇬🇧 16h00 pm tous les jours
🇪🇸 15h15 tous les jours
🇮🇹 14h30 tous les jours
🇳🇱 Sur demande

🥾 Les Pas de Bernadette : suivez l’itinéraire que Bernadette Soubirous a parcouru pour aller dire à l’abbé Peyramale les paroles de la Vierge Marie.

🇫🇷 tous les jours à 14h
🇬🇧 14h00 tous les jours
🇮🇹 14h30 tous les jours
🇳🇱 Sur demande
🇪🇦 14h30 tous les jours
🇩🇪 14h30 tous les jours

✝️ Chemin de croix guidé par un prêtre, une religieuse en mission dans le Sanctuaire, ou un bénévole pour vivre et méditer la Passion du Christ (tous les jours en allemand, anglais, français, et italien.

🇫🇷 9h30 sauf le dimanche
🇬🇧 9h15 tous les jours
🇮🇹 9h00 le lundi, mardi, jeudi, vendredi et samedi
🇳🇱 Sur demande

💧 Geste de l’eau : pendant toute la saison de pèlerinages, des bénévoles vous aident à réaliser le geste symbolique de Bernadette Soubirous lors des Apparitions aux Piscines.

👂 Point accueil et écoute (sous les arcades de l’esplanade à droite de la basilique du Rosaire). Ouvert par des bénévoles tous les jours de 9h00 à 12h00 et de 14h30 à 18h, les pèlerins peuvent venir s’y exprimer librement et confier leurs peines, mettre des mots sur leur souffrance, ou rendre grâce à Dieu.

📢 Conférence d’un chapelain sur le thème d’année « …que l’on bâtisse ici une chapelle… », tous les jours à 16h15 au Centre Info (en français)

ℹ Si vous souhaitez en savoir plus, rendez-vous au Centre Information du Sanctuaire. Ouvert tous les jours de 8h30 à 12h15 et de 13h45 à 18h30.

Programme complet des activités à retrouver sur le site officiel du Sanctuaire : https://www.lourdes-france.com/pelerin-dun-jour/

©Photo SNDL / Pierre Vincent

St. Bernadette’s very first written account of the first time she saw ‘the beautiful lady’ - which she wrote on the 28th of May 1861.

“I went to the banks of the Gave to gather firewood with two others. They crossed the water and at a certain point began crying. I asked them why they were crying: they replied that the water was cold. I asked them to help me throw some stones in the water so I could cross over without taking off my shoes. They replied by telling me to do it as they had done. I then went a little further along to see if I could cross without taking off my shoes, but it was in vain. I returned in front of the grotto in order to take off my shoes. I had just begun to do so when I heard a noise. I turned towards the meadows but saw that the trees were motionless. I continued taking off my shoes but once again heard the noise. I lifted my head and looked towards the grotto and saw a lady dressed in white. She had a white dress, a blue sash and a yellow rose on each foot, the same colour as the chain on her rosary. When I saw that, I rubbed my eyes; I thought I was mistaken. I put my hand into my pocket and found my rosary. I wanted to make the sign of the cross but was unable to lift my hand to my forehead, it just fell back. The apparition made the sign of the cross. My hand was trembling, I tried again and succeeded. I said my rosary. The apparition allowed her beads to pass through her fingers but did not move her lips. When I finished my rosary, the apparition suddenly vanished. I asked my companions if they had seen anything: they said they had not. They asked me what it was, that I should tell them. Then I told them that I had seen a lady dressed in white, but did not know who she was, and that they should not say anything about it. They told me not to return to the spot anymore. I said I would not”.

What a powerful account of what little Bernadette witnessed aged 14.