Every 8th December, the Sanctuary of Lourdes celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Monsignor Jean-Marc Micas, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, warmly invites you to the international mass which he will preside at 10 a.m. in the Basilica of Saint Pius X.
The celebration will be followed by the Angelus prayer and a floral homage to the Immaculate Virgin, at the Grotto.
This year, the singers and musicians of the Sanctuary will be offering an “Ode to the Immaculate”, at 2:30 p.m., in the Rosary Basilica.
Programme of celebrations
WEDNESDAY 7th DECEMBER
8:30 p.m.: Marian torchlight procession
THURSDAY 8th DECEMBER
10 a.m.: International Mass in the underground Basilica of Saint Pius X
11:30 a.m.: Angelus and floral tribute at the Grotto
2:30 p.m.: Ode to the Immaculate Virgin, musical meditation led by the singers and musicians
of the Sanctuary, in the Rosary Basilica
3:00 p.m.: Rosary at the Grotto
4:30 p.m.: Vespers followed by Eucharistic Adoration and Benedication of the Blessed Sacrament
at the Basilica of Saint Pius X
8:30 p.m.: Marian torchlight procession
Thousands of roses will be placed in the Grotto
On 8th December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, on the Spanish Steps in Rome, the Pope will lay a bouquet of flowers at the foot of a marble column, more than 11 metres high and supporting a statue of Mary, to pay homage to her Immaculate Conception. On that same day, in Lourdes, at the very place where the Virgin said, “I am the Immaculate Conception”, the Sanctuary will be joining in with the Holy Father’s actions: thousands of roses, ordered online by pilgrims via our website, will be placed in the Grotto, at the feet of Our Lady, to pay her homage and thus prolong the joy that Bernadette experienced when she said, “She had a yellow rose on each foot, the colour of her rosary chain,”
This year Lourdes and Rome will once again be united, when a wreath of roses is laid in the name of the sanctuary of Lourdes, at Place d’Espagne, by the Rector of the neighbouring Basilica of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte (named the “Lourdes of Rome” by Benedict XV). A vase of roses will also be placed in the grotto of Massabielle, in the name of the Basilica of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte.
“If she wants the chapel, ask her to say her name and make the rose bush in the grotto bloom!” Father Peyramale said to Bernadette Soubirous.
The rose has been associated with Our Lady of Lourdes since the first Apparition when Mary appeared adorned with a yellow rose on each foot. Father Peyramale, perplexed at the Lady’s request for a Chapel, had the idea of asking for a sign and made his expectations clear to Bernadette Soubirous: “Well! if she wants the chapel, ask her to say her name and make the rose bush in the grotto bloom!” He added, “If she says her name, and if she makes the rosebush bloom, we will build her chapel, and it won’t be a small one either! It will be very big!” (Laurentin Bernadette Speaks)
The rosary makes the world bloom: a chain of prayer on every continent
Believers from around the world are invited to join in this event by offering a rose to Mary (via our online form). At the same time, on this same day, on every continent, an immense prayer chain will be organised, an initiative of the Family of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Padre Pio prayer groups.
They will be actively participating in this prayer chain meditating on the Rosary of the Immaculate. Why don’t you join them? Saint Padre Pio said, “Let us love the Virgin and make her loved. Always pray the Rosary!”
Contact : hommagefloral-lourdes@sfr.fr
The novena prayer (from 30 th November to 8 th December)
God our Father, from among all creatures you brought forth Mary, the perfect creature, “the Immaculate Conception”. Here, in Lourdes, she revealed her name to Bernadette who passed it on to us. The Immaculate Conception is a sign of hope: evil, sin and death are no longer victorious. Mary, precursor of Jesus, dawn of salvation and refuge of sinners: We pray to you!
Lord Jesus, you gave us Mary as our Mother. She shared your Passion and your Resurrection. Here, in Lourdes, she showed herself to Bernadette, saddened by our sins but radiant with your
light. Through her, we entrust to you our joys and our sorrows, those of the sick, those of all people. Mary, our sister and our mother, our confidante and our support: We pray to you!
Holy Spirit, you are the Spirit of love and unity. Here, in Lourdes, through Bernadette, Mary asked for a chapel to be built and for people to come in procession.. Inspire the Church that Christ builds on the faith of Peter: bring it together in unity. Guide the pilgrimage of the Church: may she be faithful, missionary and bold! Mary, you who are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are both spouse and servant. You are the model for all Christians and the maternal face of the Church. We pray to you!
Because you are the smile of God, the reflection of the light of Christ, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and the gate of heaven, Our Lady of Lourdes, we look up to you, we acclaim you
and, with you, we sing the wonders of God! Amen
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Saint Bernadette, pray for us!
Every day, pray one decade of the rosary
and repeat the following invocations three times
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us
Saint Bernadette, pray for us
Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist during the novena.
