Duration
1–1.5 hours
When
Daily at 17:00 (follows the Eucharistic Procession)
The Blessing of the Sick is the culminating act of the Lourdes liturgical day. Following the afternoon Eucharistic Procession along the Esplanade, the Blessed Sacrament is brought to the open-air altar and a solemn blessing is imparted over all the sick and suffering who are present. Pilgrims in wheelchairs and on stretchers are placed at the front; those who are well stand behind. A priest prays over each section of the crowd in turn, sweeping the monstrance across the assembled thousands. The silence that falls at this moment, followed by the communal singing of the Lourdes hymn, is indescribable.
The Eucharistic Procession
At 17:00, a long procession forms at the Rosary Basilica, led by clergy and religious, then pilgrimage groups in national order, bearing banners, candles and incense. The procession moves the length of the Esplanade as the crowd sings. It concludes at the open-air Crowned Altar where the Blessed Sacrament blessing takes place.
Who Attends
The Blessing of the Sick is open to everyone. Pilgrims with any kind of illness, disability or suffering are given priority positions. Those who are well stand in support behind and around them. The ceremony embodies the Lourdes charism: the sick at the centre, the healthy in service.
Practical Tips
- ✓Arrive by 16:30 to find a good position before the procession arrives
- ✓If you or someone in your group is ill, inform your pilgrimage leader, priority placement is arranged by the Hospitalité
- ✓The ceremony takes place outdoors in all but the most severe weather
- ✓Bring tissues, this ceremony rarely leaves pilgrims dry-eyed
Experience this on a guided pilgrimage
All our packages include participation in Lourdes' most important ceremonies with a dedicated English-speaking leader.
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