Marian Route

The Marian Route refers to the pilgrimage route between Southern France and Northern Spain. It particularly refers to the route starting from Lourdes, France in the northern Pyrenees, to Montserrat, Spain, Zaragoza, Spain and Torreciudad, Spain. The Marian Route or the route of the Virgin Mary is linking France to Spain. This February 11th is also special as it is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France.  Parade of the Sick in front of the cave so that they can touch the walls of the cave to Drink the Lourdes Water which is still flowing up to now.

Here is the story: " The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes began on 11 February 1858, when Saint Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl from Lourdes, told her mother, after being asked, that she had seen a "lady" in the cave of Massabielle, about a mile from the town, while gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. Similar appearances of the "lady" were reported on seventeen further occasions that year."

The cave above is the location where Mother Mary appeared to the young Bernadette Soubirous. Mother Mary also showed Bernadette a water spring that was non-existent in the cave before so that people will believe. This water is now known as the Lourdes Water which Mother Mary encouraged pilgrims to drink and to bath in it. At The Shrine, several walks past the cave is the Bathing section where pilgrims get a chance to bath in the spring water. Do not miss that when you get a chance to visit the Shrine. It is a once in a life time experience.

Pilgrims were praying and singing in the line while waiting for our bathing session. When I reached the Bathing section, the nuns asked you to undress with a towel of course as a cover. Then when it is your turn, they pray for your intentions and then dip your whole body into the tub full of Lourdes Water. Believe me, after bathing in Lourdes Water, my whole skin was super soft like baby skin and smelled so good like roses. I have to admit that I was worried that I might smell after because it was just spring water. But this is Pure Spring Lourdes water from the apparition of Mother Mary. It is miraculous Pure water.  It is water that is still flowing from that miraculous well in the cave.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Watch the Video of the Marian Route

This is the Video that inspired me to post this story about the Marian Routes between Southern France and Northern Spain. I have been blessed to be able to visit Our Mother Mary's Shrine at Lourdes, France, Montserrat, Spain and Zaragoza, Spain. I have not visited the Marian Shrine at Torreciudad in Spain.

Evening Candlelight vigil at the Our of Lourdes Shrine.

 Every night there is Rosary Vigil which is beautiful. The Mother Mary statue has a procession and a Candlelight Living Rosary is recited in front of the Basilica. It was a very special night!

Pilgrims celebrating on the Day of Jesus' Ascension in the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine. They brought colourful balloons and released it up to Heaven! We were lucky to be there to witness this. It was such a joyous event! Very unifying for all the pilgrims from around the world.

The whole Shrine is huge. This is the back part near the Baths and the Shrine of  Apparition Cave. The river  runs beside the Shrine. The whole city of Lourdes was so fertile, so green and has abundance of  Greenery, plants, food, lots of pilgrims, love, unity, joy, peace and sacredness. I felt all that when I visited this Holy Shrine.

Montserrat, Spain

Our Lady of Montserrat. I featured my visit to Montserrat, Spain last year in my blog. For more information: http://thestyleandtravel-journals.blogspot.com/2011/10/travel-montserrat-spain.html

Zaragoza, Spain

This is the huge Cathedral of Our Lady of Del Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain and the view of the Ebro River. For more information: http://thestyleandtravel-journals.blogspot.com/2011/09/travel-advisory-one-day-in-zaragoza.html

Torreciudad, Spain

Shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad.
Photo credit: Wikipedia.
I have not visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad in Spain. Here is a brief history: "Torreciudad is the name of a Marian shrine in Aragon, Spain built by Josemaria Escriva, the founder of  Opus Dei, and consecrated on July 7, 1975, under the title of Our Lady of Torreciudad. Devotion to Mary under the title of Virgin of Torreciudad is said to date back to the eleventh century.

Happy Feast Day to Our Lady of Lourdes!

References: Wikipedia.