St Bernadette Relics Tour this Autumn

Waiting for the Relics, Credit: CBCEW

Source: CBCEW

In September and October this year, the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes will journey on pilgrimage to England, Scotland, and Wales for the first time. This special event will provide an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the special gifts and charisms of Lourdes in a church or cathedral near them.

The relics will tour the dioceses of England and Wales and other visits include Wormwood Scrubbs Prison and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. Scotland will see the relics at the Carfin Grotto in Motherwell.

St Bernadette's Story

St Bernadette was born in 1844 in a small town in France. Bernadette Soubirous was one of eight children born into a very poor family. Although initially unremarkable, Bernadette's life was to inspire generations of people to journey in faith on pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Between 11 February and 16 July 1858, Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary 18 times in a series of Apparitions that took place in cave on the outskirts of Lourdes, a place now known as the Grotto of Massabielle. In the course of these miraculous encounters, Bernadette, then aged just 14, became the friend and confidante of Our Lady, the mother of Jesus.

The Apparitions of Lourdes were authenticated in 1866 by the Bishop of Tarbes. In that same year, Bernadette left Lourdes to live out her religious vocation within the community of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. She died in 1879, was proclaimed blessed in 1925, and a became a saint in 1933.

Visit the St Bernadette Relic Tour website for more information: stbernadette.org.uk

Relic tour dates and venues: www.cbcew.org.uk/st-bernadette-relic-tour-dates-venues/

For registration details: https://stbernadette.org.uk/registration/

Video about the relics of St Bernadette https://stbernadette.org.uk/relics-video-1.mp4