Our Lady of Lourdes
My daughter came home from her parish religion program in a very excited mood. It seems that she had learned about Our Lady of Lourdes. Beth showed me the story in her third grade religion book, Coming to the Church.

The story of Lourdes begins with a young girl named Bernadette. Bernadette was not very healthy. It seems that she often could not keep up with her family and her friends. She suffered from asthma and needed to stop often to catch her breath.

One day Bernadette stayed behind some other children who had crossed a creek. As Bernadette was removing her shoes, she saw a woman. The woman, Bernadette remembered, was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. Bernadette said that this woman told her that she was the Immaculate Conception, Mary, Mother of Jesus. Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette in 1858, in the grotto of Massabielle, near Lourdes in southern France.

Our Lady told Bernadette to drink from a fountain in the grotto. Bernadette dug at a spot pointed out by Mary and a spring began to flow. Many people have been cured while visiting these waters. Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you
Blessed are you among women
And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Describe how you will celebrate the feast of our Lady of Lourdes.