On the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to Bernardette Soubirous at Lourdes, a new website has been created: www.lourdes2008.com http://www.lourdes2008.com , which also includes (since 20 June) a version in Italian. Many Italians are interested in the Marian sanctuary at Lourdes: in May 2006 alone 171,010 Italians accessed the official website of the sanctuary ( www.lourdes_france.org http://www.lourdes_france.org ). The special website for the 150th anniversary of the apparitions is full of features which enable the sense of the event to be understood: how to celebrate the jubilee year (which will begin on 8 December 2007 and end on 8 December 2008); how to get to know Lourdes better: its location, history, the life of St. Bernardette, the reality of Lourdes today, its countless pilgrimages and its fame throughout the world. Other links provide information on the jubilee (including forums, practical information, and replies to the most frequently asked questions). Surfers can also consult webcam and deposit prayer intentions.
