The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes, occurring between February and July 1858, are a cherished moment in Catholic history when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old girl from a poor family in Lourdes, France. This timeline chronicles each encounter, focusing exclusively on the events as they unfolded, the messages delivered, and the immediate circumstances surrounding them.
February 11, 1858: The First Apparition
On a chilly Thursday morning, Bernadette Soubirous, accompanied by her younger sister Toinette and a friend, Jeanne Abadie, ventured out to gather firewood near the Gave de Pau river in Lourdes. The trio approached the Massabielle grotto, a shallow cave carved into a rocky outcrop, often used as a shelter for pigs. While her companions crossed a small stream, Bernadette paused to remove her stockings, wary of getting sick due to her frail health. As she knelt, she heard a sound like a gust of wind, though the trees remained still. Looking up, she saw a young woman standing in a niche above the grotto. The figure wore a white robe tied with a blue sash, a white veil draped over her head, and yellow roses rested on her bare feet. In her hands, she held a golden rosary with a cross. A soft light surrounded her, and her face radiated a beauty Bernadette later described as unmatched. Startled but calm, Bernadette reached for her rosary and began to pray. The lady joined her, moving her beads in sync, though her lips moved only for the βGlory Beβ at the end of each decade. The vision lasted about 15 minutes before fading. Bernadette felt a deep peace and later told her sister and friend, who had seen nothing, sparking their curiosity.
February 14, 1858: The Second Apparition
Three days later, on Sunday after Mass, Bernadette felt an inner pull to return to the grotto. With permission from her hesitant parents, she went with Toinette and a few other girls. Kneeling on the rocky ground, she began praying the Rosary, and the lady reappeared in the same spot, dressed identicallyβwhite robe, blue sash, yellow roses, and golden rosary. Her presence was steady, her expression serene. Bernadette, recalling advice from an aunt, sprinkled holy water from a small vial toward the figure, saying, βIf you come from God, stay; if not, go away.β The lady smiled gently and inclined her head, remaining in place. The other girls saw only Bernadetteβs fixed gaze and quiet demeanor, and they rushed to tell others in town, igniting whispers of something extraordinary.
February 18, 1858: The Third Apparition
On Thursday, Bernadette returned, this time with two women from Lourdesβone a devout Catholic, the other curiousβcarrying a blessed candle and paper to record any words. As Bernadette knelt and prayed, the lady appeared again, her appearance unchanged. For the first time, she spoke, using the local Occitan dialect: βWould you do me the kindness of coming here for fifteen days?β Her voice was soft, her tone polite, as if extending an invitation rather than a command. Bernadette nodded eagerly, promising to return. The lady added, βI do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the next,β offering a perspective of eternal hope. The women with Bernadette heard nothing but saw her lips move as she responded. Word of this encounter spread quickly, drawing more attention to the grotto.
February 19, 1858: The Fourth Apparition
The next day, Friday, Bernadette arrived with her mother, Louise, and a small group, including an aunt who insisted on the outing. They brought a lit candle, which Bernadette held as she knelt. The lady appeared in the niche, her white robe and blue sash glowing softly in the morning light. No words were exchanged; she and Bernadette prayed the Rosary together, their movements synchronized. The vision lasted about 20 minutes, and the growing crowdβnow numbering around 20βwatched Bernadetteβs serene focus, though they saw only the rocky wall. The simplicity of the encounter left a quiet impression on those present.
February 20, 1858: The Fifth Apparition
On Saturday, Bernadette returned with a slightly larger group, about 30 people, drawn by rumors of the previous days. The lady appeared as before, her presence steady and comforting. Again, no words were spoken; she and Bernadette prayed the Rosary in unison. The crowd observed Bernadetteβs stillness, her eyes fixed upward, and some began to whisper prayers themselves. The apparition ended after a short time, leaving Bernadette with a sense of calm she struggled to explain.
February 21, 1858: The Sixth Apparition
Sunday brought a larger crowdβover 100 people, including Dr. Pierre-Romaine Dozous, a local physician curious about the claims. Bernadette knelt, and the lady appeared, her golden rosary catching the light. She spoke briefly: βPray for sinners.β The message was direct, a call to intercession that carried weight for the onlookers. Bernadette repeated the words aloud, her voice clear despite her shyness. The vision lasted longer than before, nearly 30 minutes, and the crowd grew hushed, sensing a purpose behind the ladyβs presence. That afternoon, Bernadette faced her first official questioning by Police Commissioner Dominique Jacomet, who pressed her for details, but she recounted the event plainly, unshaken.
February 23, 1858: The Seventh Apparition
On Tuesday, with about 150 people gathered, Bernadette arrived at dawn. The lady appeared, her expression warm, and they prayed together. No new message came, but her silent companionship seemed to deepen Bernadetteβs resolve. The crowd watched her kneel in the mud, her face alight with focus, and some began to kneel too, drawn into the moment. The apparition lasted about 20 minutes, ending as the sun rose higher.
February 24, 1858: The Eighth Apparition
Wednesday saw over 200 people at the grotto. The lady appeared to Bernadette and delivered a striking message: βPenance! Penance! Penance!β She repeated the word three times, her tone firm yet gentle, urging a response to sin. Bernadette relayed this aloud, and the words hung in the air, stirring reflection among the onlookers. The vision extended for nearly 45 minutes, with Bernadette in deep prayer, her hands clasped around her rosary. The call to penance left a mark, aligning with the season of Lent, which had begun earlier that month.
February 25, 1858: The Ninth Apparition
On Thursday, with nearly 300 people present, the lady appeared and gave Bernadette a specific task: βGo drink from the spring and wash in it.β Puzzled, Bernadette looked toward the Gave de Pau river, but the lady pointed to the base of the grotto. Bernadette scratched at the muddy ground with her hands, uncovering a small trickle of water. She drank the murky liquid and rubbed it on her face, following the instruction despite the crowdβs murmurs of confusion and amusement. The vision lasted about 30 minutes. By the next day, the trickle had grown into a steady stream, later becoming the famous spring associated with Lourdes.
February 27, 1858: The Tenth Apparition
Saturday brought a crowd of over 400. The lady appeared as Bernadette prayed, her white robe and yellow roses vivid against the gray rock. No new words were spoken; they shared the Rosary in silence. The vision was brief, about 15 minutes, but the presence of the springβnow flowing more noticeablyβadded a tangible element to the encounter, piquing the crowdβs interest.
February 28, 1858: The Eleventh Apparition
On Sunday, with nearly 600 people watching, Bernadette knelt and the lady appeared. They prayed together, and the lady remained silent beyond the Rosary. The vision lasted around 20 minutes, and the growing stream at the grottoβs base drew attention, with some dipping their hands in it. Bernadetteβs consistencyβher calm repetition of the same detailsβbegan to sway even the doubtful.
March 1, 1858: The Twelfth Apparition
Monday saw over 1,000 people crowded around the grotto. The lady appeared, her blue sash and golden rosary as striking as ever. No message was given; the focus remained on prayer. The apparition lasted about 30 minutes, and Bernadetteβs unwavering devotion stood out amid the restless onlookers. The springβs flow strengthened, adding to the sense of something unfolding.
March 2, 1858: The Thirteenth Apparition
On Tuesday, with 1,500 present, the lady appeared and spoke: βGo tell the priests to build a chapel here and to come in procession.β Bernadette relayed this to Fr. Dominique Peyramale, the parish priest, who demanded the ladyβs name and a sign, like roses blooming in winter. The vision lasted nearly an hour, the longest yet, and the request for a chapel suggested a lasting purpose for the site.
March 3, 1858: The Fourteenth Apparition
Wednesday brought over 3,000 people. The lady appeared, but offered no new words, praying with Bernadette as before. The vision lasted about 30 minutes. Bernadette, hesitant to press for the name as Fr. Peyramale had asked, left the encounter unchanged, though the crowdβs anticipation grew.
March 4, 1858: The Fifteenth Apparition
On Thursday, the final day of the promised fifteen, over 8,000 people filled the area. The lady appeared, her presence radiant, and they prayed together. She repeated her request for a chapel and processions but gave no name. The vision lasted 45 minutes, ending the initial series. Bernadette felt a quiet fulfillment, though questions lingered.
March 25, 1858: The Sixteenth Apparition
After a three-week pauseβBernadette reluctant to demand answersβshe returned on the Feast of the Annunciation, urged by Fr. Peyramaleβs insistence. With 7,000 onlookers, she asked, βMadam, would you kindly tell me who you are?β The lady smiled, joined her hands, and replied in Occitan, βQue soy era Immaculada Concepcionβ (βI am the Immaculate Conceptionβ). Bernadette repeated the unfamiliar phrase to the priest, who recognized its significance from the 1854 dogma. The vision lasted about 30 minutes, leaving a profound mark.
April 7, 1858: The Seventeenth Apparition
On Wednesday, with 2,000 present, the lady appeared as Bernadette prayed, holding a lit candle. For over 15 minutes, the flame touched her hand without burning her, a phenomenon noted by Dr. Dozous among the crowd. No words were spoken; the vision lasted about 20 minutes total, adding a striking detail to the series.
July 16, 1858: The Eighteenth Apparition
The final apparition came on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Authorities had fenced off the grotto, so Bernadette knelt across the river, 100 yards away. The lady appeared, more radiant than ever, offering no message but a silent gaze. Bernadette later said, βShe looked at me as if to say goodbye.β The vision lasted about 15 minutes, closing the encounters with a sense of completion.
The 18 apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes, from February 11 to July 16, 1858, unfolded as a series of quiet, powerful moments. Through Bernadette, the ladyβrevealed as the Immaculate Conceptionβshared a message of prayer, penance, and a call for a chapel and processions, marked by the emergence of a spring. These events, rooted in simplicity, offer Catholics a direct encounter with Maryβs presence, inviting reflection on her words and actions during those sacred months.
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