Christian Pilgrimage - Lourdes and Bethlehem.

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Pilgrimage

Lourdes is a little village in the south of France, which is known to be a major site for pilgrimage attracting people from all over the world. Saint Bernadette Soubirous was a poor shepherd girl suffering from severe asthma. At the age of 14, Bernadette saw eighteen apparition between February to July of “a lady” which people thought that she was crazy but after finding out that the lady was the Virgin Mary and after her death, Bernadette's body remained "incorrupt" people now believe her and built a shrine and church for her and Virgin Mary. Today, many Christians from around the world come to visit Lourdes as a pilgrimage to repent their sins and pray for their families and others.

        

During each apparitions Mary commanded Bernadette to do something. One thing that Mary told Bernadette to do was to:

“Come back to the Grotto for fifteen days”

Bernadette kept her promise and came for fifteen days as Mary asked her to do. So today pilgrims follow Bernadette same footprints and keep their promise by coming to Lourdes as a pilgrimage and going to the grotto to pray as Bernadette did. Pilgrims today also light candles in front of the grotto to pay respect to Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. As well, some pilgrims may attend the morning mass that is held at the grotto and may receive the holy communion there.

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 Another command Mary gave Bernadette was to:

“Pray to God for Sinners”

Bernadette prayed for sinners as Mary asked her to do, so today pilgrims will go to the Grotto and pray for sinners around the world. Pilgrims also pray for their friends and family who may have asked them to pray for their sins. Apart from that, this is an opportunity for pilgrims to get away from their busy lives, repent from their sins they have committed, reflect on their lives and build a better relationship with God.

Another command Mary gave Bernadette was to:

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