Wednesday 11 February 2009

Our Lady of Lourdes

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the principal patron of the Diocese of Lancaster. In 1858 Our Lady appeared to St Bernadette at the town of Lourdes in South West France. 151 years later her shrine attracts millions of visitors each year. Our Lady of Lourdes was chosen as our patroness when the Diocese was founded; our first Bishop, Thomas Wulstan Pearson, personally led a pilgrimage to Lourdes to entrust the Diocese to her intercession. Today the Cathedral will renew this act, asking Our Lady's prayers as we celebrate Mass at 12:15pm, Rosary at 7pm and Sung Vespers at 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome. A small shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes has been erected in the Lady Chapel (pictured above); this can be visited at any time today.