Attend Mass
The feast of the Apparition at Lourdes is celebrated on the same day in both the old and new calendars.
If you would like to attend a traditional Mass for the feast, find a Traditional Latin Mass near you (click here to explore).
Bring flowers to a Marian shrine
It is a pious tradition to bring flower to a shrine or grotto of Our Lady on her feasts.
The rose symbolizes Mary herself (she is known as the “Mystical Rose”—see Litany of Loreto) and is described in Dante’s Paradiso when the guide asks him to contemplate Mary, “Why are so enamored of my face that you do not turn your gaze to the beautiful garden which blossoms under the radiance of Christ? There is the Rose in which the Divine Word became flesh: here are the lilies whose perfume guides you in the right ways.”
Bless Your Children with Lourdes Holy Water
Obtain some Lourdes holy water and give the parental blessing to your children. Here is the blessing:
Have your children kneel before you. Place your right hand, or both hands on the head of each as you repeat: “God bless you, my child.” Then you may take holy water, and with the thumb of the right hand, make the Sign of the Cross upon the forehead, lips and breast, saying: “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The child may answer. “Thank you.”
Or one may make the Sign of the Cross in silence upon the forehead or over all the children. Another way is to say, while making the Sign of the Cross on the forehead: “Bless you, my child, in the Name of the Father and of the Holy Spirit.”
You may send your blessing to those away from home, or even in purgatory. Send your blessing to your absent children, and at the end of every letter you write them, add: “Your father and mother love you and bless you.”
Watch the movie The Song of Bernadette
The Song of Bernadette is a 1943 American biographical drama film based on the 1941 novel of the same name by Franz Werfel. It stars Jennifer Jones in the title role, which portrays the story of Bernadette Soubirous, who experienced eighteen visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary from February to July 1858 and was canonized in 1933.
The novel was extremely popular, spending more than a year on The New York Times Best Seller list and thirteen weeks heading the list. The story was also turned into a Broadway play, which opened at the Belasco Theatre in March 1946.
Read the Story of Our Lady of Lourdes
Here is the story of Our Lady of Lourdes from Fisheaters.com:
On February 11, 1858, when she was 14 years old, the poverty-stricken, asthmatic Bernadette Soubirous saw a vision of a beautiful Lady in a grotto on the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes, France.
The woman did not reveal her identity, but asked Bernadette to return. Bernadette did, and the Lady revealed to her that she is “the Immaculate Conception,” and that a church should be built there. Bernadette was a faithful Catholic, but a simple one, and she didn’t understand what the Lady meant by the title “Immaculate Conception” even though it had been formally and dogmatically declared four years ealier by Pope Pius IX. She went to her priest and related what she’d been told by the beautiful Lady.
Bernadette was disbelieved and harrassed by local French authorities, and crowds began to gather when news spread and when she wouldn’t recant the story of her vision.
On 25 February, Bernadette was told to dig in the earth, which she did to much mockery, but there, the healing waters of the now famous Lourdes shrine were discovered where the Lady had appeared. Today, millions of pilgrims visit the shrine to bathe in its waters, and many miracles have taken place.
Bernadette became a nun at Nevers, France and, suffering much from physical ailments, died young. Her body remains incorrupt at her convent to this day.
Pray the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Litany of Loreto
Litany of Loreto
Lord, have mercy on us. (Christ have mercy on us.)
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. (Christ graciously hear us.)
God, the Father of heaven, (have mercy on us.)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (have mercy on us.)
God the Holy Ghost, (have mercy on us.)
Holy Trinity, one God, (have mercy on us.)
Holy Mary,*
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary.
Queen of the family,
Queen of Peace,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.)
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. (That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.)
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
*”Pray for us.”
—
Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Introductory Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle within them the fire of Thy love!
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit dost instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us by this same Spirit to relish what is right and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
I. Crown of Excellence
To honor the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable Virginity, her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues.
1. Our Father, Hail Mary.
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world; thou didst give birth to Him Who made thee, and remainest a Virgin forever.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
2. Hail Mary.
O holy and immaculate Virgin, I know not with what praise to extol thee, since thou didst bear in thy womb the very One Whom the Heavens cannot contain.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
3. Hail Mary.
Thou are all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
4. Hail Mary.
Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in number.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father.
II. Crown of Power
To honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her universal mediation and the strength of her rule.
5. Our Father, Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joys of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
6. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord’s graces! Grant us a share in thy riches.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
7. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O Mediatrix between God and man!Through thee may the Almighty be favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
8. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father.
III. Crown of Goodness
To honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin toward sinners, the poor, the just and the dying.
9. Our Father, Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
10. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
11. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
12. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee who are ever ready to assist us in lifeand death! Lead us with thee to the kingdom of Heaven!
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father.
Concluding Prayer
Let Us Pray.
Hail, Mary, Daughter of God the Father; Hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son; Hail, Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost; Hail, Mary, Temple of the most Holy Trinity; Hail, Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart; my Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope —- yea, my heart and my soul! I am all thine and all that I have is Thine, O Virgin blessed above all things! Let thy soul be in me to magnify the Lord; let thy spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart, that in thee and through thee I may be found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children. Grant that for love of thee I may despise all earthly consolations and ever cling to those of Heaven until, through thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ thy Son be formed in me for the glory of the Father.
Amen.
Pray Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes
Opening Prayer To Be Prayed Each Day
Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest thy shining glory with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child, St. Bernadette: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” A thousand times we praise thee for thine Immaculate Conception. And now, O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Infirm, Refuge of Sinners, Comforter of the Afflicted, thou knowest our wants, our troubles, and our sufferings; deign to cast upon us thy look of mercy.
By appearing in the grotto of Lourdes, thou wast pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, from whence thou dost dispense thy favors, and already many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. We come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore thy maternal affection, and intercession. Obtain for us, O loving Mother, the request we beseech of thee…
(Mention your intentions here)
Through gratitude for thy favors, we will endeavor to imitate thy virtues, that we may one day share thy glory. O Queen of Heaven.
O Mary Immaculate, O Mother of Christ, thine influence was plentitudinous with thy Divine Son, while still upon earth. Do thou shine forth thine influence ever present in Heaven. Pray for us, and obtain for us from thy Divine Son our special request, if it be His Will. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
First Day
O Mary Immaculate, O Sovereign Grace, Virgin and Mother, and Queen of Heaven, chosen from all eternity to be the Mother of the Eternal Word and by that virtue, preserved from Original Sin, we kneel before thee as did little Bernadette at Lourdes and pray with childlike trust in thee, that as we contemplate thy glorious appearance there, thou wilt look with mercy on our present petition, and secure for us a favorable answer to the request for which we offer this novena.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Second Day
Blessed be thee, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest thyself shining with light, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child Saint Bernadette: “I am the Immaculate Conception!” O Mary Immaculate, inflame our hearts with one ray of the burning love of thy pure heart. Let them be consumed with love for Jesus and for thee, in order that we may merit one day to enjoy thy glorious eternity. O Mediatrix of All Graces here below, take into thy keeping, and present to thy Divine Son, the intention with which we are offer this novena.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Third Day
“Thou art all fair, O Mary, and there is in thee no stain of original sin.” O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. O brilliant Star of Sanctity, as on that lovely day, upon the rough hewn rocks at Lourdes, when thou didst speak to the child Bernadette, and a fountain broke from the plain earth, and miracles happened, and the great shrine of Lourdes began, do now, we beseech thee, hear our fervent prayer and likewise obtain for us the fulfilment of the intention we now so earnestly seek.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Fourth Day
O Immaculate Queen of Heaven, we thy wayward, erring children, join our unworthy prayers of praise and thanksgiving to those of the Angels and Saints, and thine own, that the One, Holy, and Undivided Trinity may be glorified on earth, as They are in Heaven.
Our Lady of Lourdes, as thou didst look down with love and mercy upon Bernadette as she prayed her Rosary in the grotto, look down now, we beseech thee, with love and mercy upon us. From the abundance of graces granted to thee by thy Divine Son, O Mother of God, grant to each of us all that thy motherly heart sees we need, and at this moment, look with special favor on the intention for which we offer this novena.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Fifth Day
O Mary Immaculate, Mother of God and our mother, from the heights of thy dignity, look down mercifully upon us while we, full of confidence in thy unbounded goodness, and confident that thy Divine Son will look favorably upon any request thou makest of Him in our behalf, we beseech thee to come to our aid, and secure for us the intention for which we offer this novena.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Sixth Day
O glorious Mother of God, so powerful under thy special title of Our Lady of Lourdes, to thee we raise our hearts and hands to implore thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, and for the special intention for which we so earnestly offer this novena.
O Lady of Bernadette, with the stars of heaven in thy hair, and the roses of Earth at thy feet, look with compassion upon us today as thou didst so long ago, on Bernadette, in the Grotto of Lourdes.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Seventh Day
O Almighty God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary did preparest a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we humbly beseech Thee, that as we contemplate the apparition of Our Lady in the Grotto of Lourdes, we may be blessed with health of mind and body.
O most gracious Mother Mary, O Mother of Our Lord and Redeemer, look down with favor upon us, as thou didst that day on Bernadette, and intercede with Him for us, that the intention we now so earnestly seek, may be granted to us.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Eighth Day
O Immaculate Mother of God, from Heaven itself, thou camest to appear to the little Bernadette, in the rough Grotto of Lourdes! And as Bernadette knelt at thy feet and the miraculous spring burst forth, and as multitudes have knelt ever since before thee in that grotto of Lourdes, O Mother of God, we kneel before thee today to ask that in thy mercy, pleadest thou with thy Divine Son, to grant the special intention for which we offer this novena.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Ninth Day
O glorious Mother of God, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy death. O Mother of our Divine Lord, as we conclude this novena for the special favor we seek at this time.
(Mention your intentions here)
O Immaculate Mary, O Bernadette of Lourdes, we feel animated with confidence that thy prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard. O Mother of Our Lord, through the love thou bearest to Christ Jesus, and for the glory of His Holy Name, hear our prayers, and obtain our petitions.
O Brilliant star of purity, O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in thine Assumption, triumphant in thy Coronation, show unto us thy mercy, O Virgin Mary, O Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, and be our comfort, our hope, our strength, and our consolation. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Complete Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Marian consecration is the act of entrusting one’s body, soul, possessions, works, and entire life to the protection, guidance, and intercession of Our Lady.
We highly recommend St. Louis de Montfort’s illuminative book “True Devotion to Mary” as your guide. Be sure to start your reading for the consecration 33 days in advance of the feast day so that you will be ready to perform the act of final consecration on the feast!