The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes commemorates the 150th anniversary of the crowned Virgin statue with a symbolic floral offering, honoring Marian apparitions and a legacy of pilgrimage and devotion.
Newsroom (29/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the crowning of the Virgin Mary this May, reviving a tradition rooted in the symbolic golden roses said to have appeared at Mary’s feet during her apparitions to Saint Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.
At the center of the commemoration is the statue of the Crowned Virgin, created by sculptor Joseph-Hugues Fabisch and installed in 1876 in front of the Basilica of the Rosary. Standing 2.5 meters tall and cast in bronze, the statue rests on a white marble pedestal at one corner of the sanctuary’s expansive esplanade. The image represents Mary in glory, elevated as Queen of Heaven—a marked contrast to the more subdued depiction in the grotto, which reflects Bernadette’s vision of a humble and silent figure.
Each evening, the esplanade fills with thousands of pilgrims participating in the sanctuary’s traditional torchlight procession, during which the Holy Rosary is recited in multiple languages. The setting reinforces the dual identity of Lourdes as both a site of intimate spiritual encounter and large-scale communal devotion.
In its anniversary celebrations, the sanctuary is inviting pilgrims and visitors to contribute to a symbolic act of devotion: creating a crown not of gold, but of flowers. Organizers describe the gesture as deeply personal and spiritual. “To place a flower is to place a prayer,” the sanctuary noted, emphasizing that each offering can represent a petition, an expression of gratitude, or a simple presence.
The anniversary also recalls another significant crown associated with Lourdes. In 2007, during the World Day of the Sick—which coincides with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes—Pope Benedict XVI placed a golden crown on a separate image of the Virgin. This crown, crafted by the Mellerio goldsmithing house, had originally been produced in 1876 through a national subscription. Intended for the statue by sculptor Cabuchet in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception above the grotto, the crown is now preserved in the sanctuary’s archives.
The origins of Lourdes’ global significance trace back to 18 reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous between February 11 and June 16, 1858. During these encounters, the Virgin identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. After an ecclesiastical investigation, the Church formally recognized the apparitions in 1862.
Development of the sanctuary followed swiftly. By 1861, the Church had acquired the land and began constructing facilities to accommodate pilgrims, including the first church—now known as the crypt within the upper basilica. The statue of the Virgin was placed in the grotto in 1864, solidifying the site as a focal point of Marian devotion.
Today, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes spans 52 hectares and includes 22 places of worship. In addition to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the complex features two other basilicas—one of them underground—as well as numerous chapels. Pilgrims also visit the pools to the west of the sanctuary, where they immerse themselves in water associated with healing.
South of the grotto, the monumental Stations of the Cross stretch along Espelugues hill. Inaugurated in 1912, the site has become a significant devotional pathway, though it now faces serious deterioration.
Lourdes remains one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world, in part due to its association with healing. Of more than 7,000 cases examined, 72 have been officially recognized as miracles attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the majority involving women.
As the sanctuary marks this milestone anniversary, the simple act of offering a flower underscores a continuing tradition: one that bridges historical devotion with contemporary expressions of faith, rooted in the enduring story of Lourdes.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Prensa
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