Relics of St Bernadette
Two official diocesan pilgrimages to Lourdes are organised annually. The main one, the summer trip is at the end of June. The second or Autumn trip is usually in the first week of October. It’s a tradition that stretches back over the past sixty years or so.
In Lourdes the sick occupies pride of place and are feted as VIPs. The Killaloe Summer outing facilitates people who are sick or no longer able to cater for themselves. ‘Assisted pilgrims’ are accommodated in a hospital premises called ‘The Accueil’ and a team of secondary school young students assist them in getting around the shrine to the various events and occasions. The young volunteers generally take to the task on hand like ducks to water and it’s a delight to see them growing in confidence in the role as the week progresses.
Like so many things during the pandemic the assisted pilgrims and the young helpers were unable to travel, and it was a great bonus to see them return this Summer. They add so much to the pilgrimage and it’s a great chance for young people to experience other young people sharing and celebrating faith together in a most positive environment.
Lourdes is probably the most famous and best attended Catholic Shrines in the world with several million visitors each year. The story of the Shrine is a remarkable one. In 1858 Our Lady appeared to a poor young teenager; a shepherdess called Bernadette Soubirous. There was a total of 18 apparitions. Our Lady, describing herself as ‘The Immaculate Conception’ asked her to build a Church, to encourage people to come in procession on pilgrimage there, to pray and to do penance. She also asked Bernadette to wash her face in muddy water in the alcove of the cave where the encounters were happening. This water was to unveil a spring of fresh water that was to become a source of physical and spiritual healing for many generations to come at the shrine and at the baths. It is traditional for pilgrims to bathe in this water and bring home holy water from this sacred source.
It took quite some time and considerable effort on the part of young Bernadette to convince the religious and secular authorities to the veracity of her claims. She eventually departed to Nevers, hundreds of miles away where she became a religious sister. Her health was very poor while in the convent and she died at the age of 35 in 1879 after much suffering. Even on her deathbed she suffered intense pain. Her final words as she was dying were: “Blessed Mary, Mother of God, pray for me. A poor sinner, a poor sinner.”
Bernadette’s body, when exhumed in Nevers for the process of beatification, was found to be intact, to the surprise of those present. Since 3rd August 1925, following her beatification, Bernadette’s body lies in a glass shrine in the chapel of the convent of Saint-Gildard in Nevers. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI, who authenticated her visions and the veneration of Mary as Our Lady of Lourdes.
Bernadette is the patron saint of bodily illness, Lourdes, against poverty, shepherds and shepherdesses, and people ridiculed for their faith. She lived out her vocational call with extraordinary dedication and prayerfulness and is regarded as one of the great saints.
In the meantime, Lourdes continued to grow and expand and become a major international centre of prayer, pilgrimage and miraculous healing of the sick. Following several commissions of enquiry and with the passage of time the Shrine was accepted as official by Church authorities and a number of Popes have visited the shrine.
This Autumn the relics of St Bernadette will be visiting many dioceses in Ireland. The faithful will have an opportunity to pray in the presence of the relics at local level venerate them and pray for graces and blessings through the intercession of St. Bernadette. On Monday September 9th the relics will come to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul and on Tuesday they will move on to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Silvermines in Co Tipperary.
The veneration of St. Bernadette’s relics is all about faith. We thank God for the faith of His saint as we reflect on and learn more about the saint’s faith. St. Bernadette invites us to pray. We pray that God will renew and increase faith in us. Relics are honoured only to honour the holiness of God.
It will be a unique once-off opportunity to bring some of the message and substance of Lourdes to our own diocese. For people who may not be able to travel or unable to afford to go to Lourdes this is certainly an opportunity of a lifetime, not to be missed.
✠ Fintan Monahan is bishop of Killaloe
Clare Champion Article Friday 12th of July