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The slide show has been made during first days of the 150th Anniversary of the First Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Bernardette celebration in Lourdes. The movie starts with vintage Holy Card followed by old photo of the Grotto as seen in St Bernadette times. We can also have a glimpse of the Grotto when it has already became celebrated place of worship. These first photographs are followed by pictures taken during first days of celebration in Lourdes. The photos show the main events of these several days. During the first day, on our arrival we first paid a visit and lit votive candles at the Grotto of Messabielle while listening to International Mass open air celebrated just over the river. The several next pictures show exterior and interior of Immaculate Conception Basilica which top up the Crypt - the first chapel built at Our Lady's request. The building beneath is the Rosary Basilica which has a dome crowned with gold plated crown founded by faithful Irish Catholics from all over the world. In the afternoon of the first day, we participated in the Blessed Sacrament Procession with over 920 priests gathered at Lourdes to pay homage to Our Lady. The procession took place around the main square in front of both Basilicas. The square is adorned with beautiful crowned statue of Our Lady. The first day ended with candle Rosary procession concluded with prayers at the Grotto. The following days were spent visiting places connected with life of St Bernadette where we had an opportunity to collect stickers for Jubilee medal commemorating steps of this meditative journey and needed to fulfill Indulgence conditions generously granted by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. On the way we visited Soubirou's family home, called Boly Mill, where St Bernadette was born, the original baptisery used for her baptism which is now located within the new Parish Church that replaced original one completely destroyed by the fire at the end of XIX century. Interestingly, the front of the old Church with baptismal font was the only part that survived the fire. Next we visited Le Cachot, the desolate former prison cell room measuring a bit over 12 feet square where Bernadette lived with her parents and three other siblings at the time of Apparitions. The loving and very close Soubirou family lived there in utter poverty in despicable conditions after Bernadette's father lost both business and family house, was left half blinded after accident at the mill he run, was falsely accused of stealing some flour and had to spent eight days in prison before being finally declared innocent. He never, however, recovered his good name and was thought a thief when the first Apparition took place. The Jubilee pilgrimage ended with the visit to Hospice run by Sisters of Charity where young Bernadette received her First Communion and lived there since Apparitions ended to avoid ever increasing attention of the public. Important devotion of the following days were prayers at Lourdes spectacular open air Stations of the Cross located on the hill close to the Basilica of Immaculate Conception. The Stations are made of natural size figures and each Station depicts vividly dramatic moments of Our Lord's Passion. The first Station is usually prayed by the faithful on the miniature replica of holy steps transferred originally from Pilate palace and located in Santa Scala Church in Rome.

lourdes, catholicism, religion, apparitions, st, bernadette, jubilee, year,