Lourdes has formally applied to have the candle light procession tradition recognized as part of France’s Intangible Cultural Heritage
Newsroom (02/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Each evening, as dusk settles over the Pyrenees foothills, thousands of pilgrims gather at the Grotto of Apparitions in Lourdes, their candles casting a shimmering glow across the Rosary Esplanade. This ritual, the sanctuary’s cherished candlelight procession, has illuminated the town for over 150 years. Now, Lourdes has formally applied to have this tradition recognized as part of France’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, a move that underscores its profound cultural and spiritual significance.
On September 26, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes submitted its application to the French Ministry of Culture, marking a pivotal step in preserving a practice rooted in the humble act of Bernadette Soubirous, who carried a single candle during her visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. What began as a solitary gesture has evolved into a vibrant nightly procession, where pilgrims from around the world recite the rosary in multiple languages, their voices weaving a tapestry of prayer and song.
“This is more than a religious ritual,” said a sanctuary spokesperson. “It’s a cultural phenomenon that binds communities across borders and generations.” Historians note that by 1863, visitors were already emulating Bernadette’s candlelit devotion, and in 1864, the first organized procession lit up the night during the consecration of the Virgin’s statue. Today, the event can draw up to 17,000 participants on major feast days like the Assumption, transforming Lourdes into a global beacon of faith and unity.
The bid for national heritage status is seen as a precursor to a potential UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage listing, which would place the procession alongside traditions worldwide that foster human connection. Recognition would affirm the event’s role not just as a Catholic rite but as a universal expression of hope and transcendence.
In parallel, Lourdes is bolstering its historical legacy with the creation of a Centre de Ressources Historiques. This new archive will house manuscripts, artifacts, and records, ensuring the sanctuary’s story endures for future generations. As the candlelight procession continues to draw pilgrims, its flickering flames stand as a testament to a tradition that is both deeply personal and profoundly collective.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Zenit
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