To end the story of St Bernadette's life in 1858 would not be a true reflection of her devotion to the message given to her in Lourdes.
After the apparitions Bernadette continued to live a further 8 years in Lourdes and to avoid unwanted attention she took up residence with the Sisters of Charity in the Hospice.
During this time she tried her best to learn to read and write. Life was difficult for her there and she was often given the menial task of cleaning the vegetables.
Bernadette decided to leave Lourdes and join the order of the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, some 480 miles from Lourdes. There she lived out the rest of her short life cleaning and working in the infirmary but always fulfilling the words spoken by our Lady 'Pray the Rosary', 'Penance, penance, penance.'
Bernadette wrote later in life 'I was nothing and of this nothing God made something great.'
Bernadette never returned to Lourdes - she said 'I went to the Grotto for the last time. I said goodbye. I turned away. I did not look back'.
After her death on 16th April 1879 her body was placed in the convent cemetery and some 30 years later was exhumed in the process of Beatification. Her body was found to be incorrupt yet her rosary beads had rusted away. After her canonisation in 1933 her body was placed in a glass coffin within the convent chapel, where you can see it today.
A walking tour following the 2008 Jubilee Way, which includes part of the old town of Lourdes, the Cachot where St Bernadette lived during the apparitions, the parish church where she was baptised, the Old Hospital where she made her First Communion and the walk from St Michael's Gate to the Grotto.
Subject to enough interest various excursions can be booked.
Hotels: Accommodation is on a Full Board basis. Details of the hotels we offer can be found by following the links:
Other hotels may be available on request, please contact our office
The Lourdes Region
It's not just about prayer - complementing the spiritual appeal of Lourdes is the beauty of the surrounding area. More....
.
Flight Information
From Manchester: Flights to Lourdes with bmibaby, using the Boeing 737
2010 Flight Schedule from Manchester and London
Mondays and Fridays
May
3
7
10
14
17
21
24
28
31
June
4
7
11
14
18
21
25
28
July
2
5
9
12
16
19
26
30
August
2
6
9
13
16
20
23
27
30
September
3
6
10
13
17
20
24
27
October
1
4
Flight times for Manchester
Outbound
Mondays
Fridays
Depart Manchester
10:20
10:20
Arrive Lourdes
13:25
13:25
Inbound
Depart Lourdes
14:35
14:35
Arrive Manchester
15:45
15:45
Times are local.
.
EASTER 4th - 9th APRIL
Manchester to Toulouse 4th April - Depart Manchester 06:25 Arrive Toulouse 09:35 9th April Depart Toulouse 10:55 Arrive Manchester 12:10
Coach Transfers between Toulouse and Lourdes
5 Nights 3 Star hotel PARADIS £549 per person, on full board basis.
Price based on twin accommodation.
Single room supplement £143.00 Price includes airport check-in and
one piece of hold luggage.
Please note any excess baggage will
be charged at check-in.
Names must be as shown on your
passports as any mistakes will involve
high charges levied by the airline. (Includes full pilgrimage programme) Leaflet...
By Air From Scotland:
Direct to Lourdes Edinburgh departure
25th June - 2nd July - 7 nights only
Group and Parish Departures
available from Edinburgh and Prestwick via Carcassone - dates and prices on request
