The 150th anniversary of Our Blessed Mother's Apparition to St Bernadette at Lourdes in 1858 was celebrated at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday, 6 December 2008.
"Mary & the Word of God" was the theme chosen for Singapore's 2nd celebration of the "Lourdes Event" as this was in line with the theme that was treated by the Synod of Bishops in Rome from 5th to 26th October this year: "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church".
It was through Mary Our Blessed Mother that Christ, the Word of God came into this world. Through her humble submission to the will of God, Jesus became incarnate in her womb and was born in Bethlehem.
Each year, for the past 150 years, thousands of people of all faiths journey to Lourdes to pray at its Grotto for special favours, such as physical cures; to drink or bathe in its healing waters; seek spiritual solace or simply to imbibe the feeling of peace and love that pervades the atmosphere of this holy place.
However, it is not the place but the faith of the pilgrim which brings about healing. And Lourdes would not have become the well known pilgrimage site today, if not for the extraordinary experience of Bernadette Soubirous.
On 11th February 1858, she had her first encounter with Our Lady which changed her life from obscurity to prominence, for which she had to suffer much. In all, she had 18 apparitions of Our Lady over a six month period.
However, it is not the place but the faith of the pilgrim which brings about healing. And Lourdes would not have become the well known pilgrimage site today, if not for the extraordinary experience of Bernadette Soubirous.
On 11th February 1858, she had her first encounter with Our Lady which changed her life from obscurity to prominence, for which she had to suffer much. In all, she had 18 apparitions of Our Lady over a six month period.
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