Why Do Visitors To Lourdes Drink, Bathe In And Bottle Spring Water From The Grotto Of Massabielle?

The grotto was made famous by Saint Bernadette Souberious, who claimed she had 18 apparitions of the Blessed Virign Mary at the location in the small French town. It is widely accepted by the Catholic Church that at the ninth visitation, Mary told Bernadette to drink from the spring that flowed under the rock. As their was no flowing water present, Bernadette assumed the spring was underground and did as "the lady" asked her to and began to dig. She found a small puddle and from this, water began to flow to 3.5 metres high.

Although the water does not contain any specific chemical compounds which make cures possible, many believe the water has powers of healing and cleansing. Of the mllions who visit the pilgrimage site each year, many drink from the dozens of taps connected to the spring and also bathe in the water. There is also a tradition of bottling the water and taking it home for family and friends.