Christmas at the Sanctuary
22nd December
Grotto 8.00 p.m.
Arrival of the light of peace, followed by a celebration during which this light will be spread by the scouts of the diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes. This Christian Scout event takes place every year during the Advent season. Lit in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the light is brought to Vienna (Austria), then passed from hand to hand throughout Europe. It is a symbol of peace, which can be received personally or given to a loved one.
24th december
8.30 pm Rosary by torchlight
This rosary will be offered every evening until 6th January 2019.
9 pm Evening Vigil and Night Mass at the Rosary Basilica.
25th december
10 am and 11.15 am Christmas Mass in French, at the Rosary Basilica.
31st december
11.00 pm Mass at the Grotto (if bad weather, in the Rosary Basilica).
The little house of Bernadette
On the first floor of the Information Centre, the Little House of Bernadette offers accompanied children a whole range of games and activities through which they can discover the message of Lourdes.
Christmas holiday times:
From 22nd December to 6th January from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Every day, except 25th December and 1st January.
6th january 2019 : Inauguration of the «Bernadette year» at the Palais des Congrès, on the anniversary of her birth and baptism
- The theme of the year, “Blessed are the poor” which everyone can confidently make use of to support their approach to pilgrimage.
- The path of Bernadette that leads to the village of Bartrès, close to Lourdes, has been upgraded. Bernadette lived there, at Madame Lagües’s, helping with jobs on the farm, especially looking after the sheep.
- The pilgrimage of the relics of St. Bernadette. They visited some Italian dioceses in 2017, and then France, Spain and Germany this year. In 2019, they will return to Normandy, Spain and Italy … A reliquary is always available for veneration in the Sanctuary crypt. The relics will also be venerated at the end of each International Mass on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the pilgrimage season.
- Bernadette of Lourdes. A musical ‘in residence’ at Lourdes, at the Robert Hossein room, from 1st July to 27th October 2019.
23rd Saint-François of sales days
30th january – 1st february 2019 : Christian journalists from around the world gather in Lourdes around the theme, “Journalism and convictions”. During this conference, Cardinal Pietro Parolin will, for the second time, present the Père Jacques Hamel Prize to the author of the most instructive article of the year, championing peace in general and interreligious dialogue in particular.
February 2019 : winter holidays
7th February 8.30 pm : First Rosary by torchlight
8th – 11th february: the Lourdes february days
The conference brings together pilgrimage directors, tour operators, hospitality presidents, school heads (school courses are available) and all the friends of Lourdes. It is a chance for reflection and discussion on poverty of our time (spiritual, social and global) and solidarity ex participants to discover the variety of activities on offer to pilgrims and visitors. Workshops will give an opportunity to explore the questions in greater depth. Participants will be shown a preview of the film “Lourdes” and a recital of the musical “Bernadette of Lourdes”.
1 av. Monseigneur Théas
