150 years ago…

While waiting to know the exact date of the Pilgrimage of Benedict XVI, the Jubilee of the apparitions of Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous opens today in Lourdes. In fact, 150 years ago, on Thursday, February 11 1858, Bernadette, who had gone with her sister and a friend in Massabielle, along the Gave river to collect wood, met the Virgin for the first time. She described her with the following words: “I saw a woman dressed in white. She was wearing a white dress, a white veil, a blue belt and a yellow rose on each foot”. The apparitions, 18 all together, continued until July 16, 1858. For this Jubilee, the third after 1908 and 1958 (see also Sir 81/2007), the diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes, led by bishop Jacques Perrier, planned a long series of events and appointments that will take place until December 8, 2008. For details, log on www.lourdes2008.com.THE OPENING. Cardinals Paul Joseph Cordès, president of the Papal Council “Cor Unum”, and Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the evangelisation of the peoples, will open in Lourdes the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin to Bernadette Soubirous. Today at the Church of Saint Bernadette, card. Cordès will say Mass, followed in the afternoon by the opening of two exhibitions, “Mary in Lourdes” and “Mary in Europe”, and in the evening by the traditional procession ‘aux flambeaux’. Tomorrow, the Day of the Immaculate Conception, in the basilica of Saint Pius X, Mass will be said by card. Dias followed by the Angelus prayer. In the afternoon, there will be a Eucharistic procession, during which the mosaics of the luminous mysteries made by father Marko Rupnik will be showed for the first time. The opening of the jubilee of Mary’s apparitions in Lourdes will also be celebrated by the second international meeting of the Hospitallers, “The Church on a mission with the volunteers” opened on the 6 (to 8 December).PLENARY INDULGENCE. To underline the importance of the event but also “to grant the pleas of many Pastors and devotees”, Benedict XVI decided to grant a special plenary indulgence. To put in practice this decision, the Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree, which was announced on the 5th December, to this effect: “plenary indulgence will be granted on a daily basis to those devotees who, from 8th December 2007 to 8th December 2008, piously and on the fixed terms, will visit the cave of Massabielle, and who, from 2nd to 11th February 2008, will visit, in any temple, oratory, cave or proper place, the blessed image of the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes, solemnly exposed to public veneration”. To gain indulgence, “also applicable to the souls of the devotees in Purgatory”, the devotees, “truly repentant, duly purified by the Sacrament of Confession and refreshed by Holy Communion”, can visit, “preferably in the set order, the parish baptistery used for Bernadetta’s christening; the Soubirous’ house, also known as the “cachot”; the Cave of Massabielle; the chapel of the hospice where Bernardetta took First Communion, and every time will linger for a reasonable time in silence, in pious meditations, and will end by saying the Lord’s Prayer, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form and the jubilee prayer or another Marian plea”. An indulgence that will also be granted to the “elderly, the sick, and all those who for any legitimate reason cannot leave their homes”, if, “conceiving the detestation of every sin and the intention to fulfil as soon as possible the usual three conditions on 2-11 February 2008, they will visit, with the wish of their hearts, spiritually”, the places listed in the Decree. A HANDBOOK. A 64-page “handbook” will give pilgrims and simple tourists information about Lourdes and its religious, historical and tourist richness. It was the initiative of the diocese and the Municipality of Lourdes which remains, with its 6 million visitors per year, one of the most venerated Marian sanctuaries in the world. For the anniversary of the apparitions of the Holy Virgin, bishop msgr. Jacques Perrier, with the mayor Jean-Pierre Artiganave, launched “Lourdes, mode d’emploi”, a guide to help pilgrims and tourists organize their stay and the pilgrimage to the city. “The year 2008 will be an exceptional year – the two promoters wrote – since it will mark the Jubilee of the apparitions of the Virgin in Bernadette. Men and women, young and old, disabled, families and groups and individuals you are all welcome. Whichever may be your convictions here you will find a vivifying message”. The handbook illustrates the history of apparitions, the reasons for the Jubilee with the celebrations calendar, visiting hours and the maps of the sanctuary along with information on the city and its places of cultural, historical and artistic interest as well as restaurants, shops and services.