Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is in Lourdes, Occitanie, France and is one of the world’s major Catholic pilgrimage centres, associated with the 1858 Lourdes apparitions and a long medical review tradition for reported cures.. Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 apparitions at Massabielle between 11 February and 16 July 1858.

Bishop Bertrand-Sévère Laurence opened an inquiry and, on 18 January 1862, issued the diocesan decree recognizing the apparitions. The sanctuary later developed a formal medical review tradition for reported cures; its Bureau des Constatations Médicales dates from 1883. Catholic tradition identifies the figure reported by Bernadette as the Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Lourdes.

Reports of healing are not presented here as medical proof of supernatural causation: the sanctuary investigates cases medically, while any later declaration that a cure is miraculous is an ecclesiastical judgment. Religious life or devotional practice associated with the site includes Mass, prayer, rosary, and pilgrimage devotions. Recorded observances include Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and pilgrimage processions.