There are five signs of Lourdes
Water
On 25th February 1858, Bernadette heard,
"Go drink of the sprIng and wash yourself there".
"Aquero" (the Lady) "told me to drink and wash myself in the spring. Not seeing any, I went to the Gave. But she made a sign to me, with her finger, to go under the rock. I did this, I found a little water, like mud, so little that I could hardly take it in my hand. Three times I threw it away, it was so dirty. The fourth time I could drink it."
The Gospel recounts the following story: Jesus was tired from the journey and sat down next to a well. A woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her,
‘Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give will never thirst; the water that I shall give will well up in them and will become a source of eternal life." (John 4:14)
The water of Lourdes is a sign of the "living water" that Jesus gives us.
The Rock
It is in this cave that Bernadette saw Our Lady on 18 occasions.
The Bible tells us that God is our rock. He is the rock we lean on.
"He is my rock, my refuge, . . . blessed be the Lord, my Rock." (Psalm 17)
Light
Day and night, summer and winter, the candles burn at the Grotto. The candle is the light of faith.
This is the Light of Christ
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in the dark but will have the light of life."
The Crowd
The crowd is huge coming from every race and nation and language. The pilgrims who come today are estimated at 6 million. In Lourdes, we live the Church gathering together and the scattered children of God.
The Sick
Since the cure of Catherine Latapie on 1st March 1858, people have come to Lourdes seeking healing for body and soul, the courage to return and to live life to the full.
