The sixteenth Marian apparition at Lourdes: a moment of spiritual revelation
On 25 March 1858, the feast of the Annunciation, the sixteenth Marian apparition at Lourdes marked a decisive turning point in the encounters between Bernadette Soubirous and the mysterious Lady she saw in the grotto of Massabielle. This apparition was of particular importance, as it was during this encounter that the Virgin revealed her identity to the young visionary.
A special context: the feast of the Annunciation
The sixteenth apparition takes place on Annunciation Day, a Christian feast celebrating the moment when the Archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she is going to conceive and give birth to the Son of God. This context adds a unique spiritual dimension to this apparition, in which the Virgin Mary finally named herself to Bernadette
Since the first apparition, Bernadette had received several requests from the parish priest of Lourdes, Abbé Peyramale, to find out the identity of the Lady. The religious and civil authorities remained sceptical, and insistence on this question became crucial in assessing the veracity of the apparitions.
The revelation of identity: "I am the Immaculate Conception"
That morning, Bernadette arrived at the grotto very early, at around 5am. She was accompanied by a growing crowd of locals and curious onlookers who were witnessing these increasingly extraordinary events. During this sixteenth apparition, the Lady finally introduced herself to Bernadette, saying the words that would shock the Church: "I am the Immaculate Conception."
For Bernadette, these words were mysterious. She didn't understand them straight away, but memorised them carefully. When she later went to Abbé Peyramale to pass on the message, he was deeply touched. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, declared a dogma by the Catholic Church in 1854 by Pope Pius IX, refers to the Virgin Mary's conception without original sin. This title given by the Lady to Bernadette confirms the divine identity of the one she sees in the apparitions.
A spiritual confirmation for the Church
This revelation brings new credibility to the Lourdes apparitions. Abbé Peyramale, who had hitherto been cautious and sceptical, was convinced that Bernadette could not have known of such a complex theological concept. This simple sentence reinforced the idea that Bernadette had witnessed a divine intervention.
The religious authorities then began to seriously consider recognising the apparitions, even though further investigations would be necessary. The crowds present at the grotto also began to understand the spiritual depth of the events unfolding before their eyes.
A message of humility and faith
The sixteenth apparition is notable for the depth of the message delivered to Bernadette. Beyond the revelation of the Lady's identity, this apparition is a call to humility and faith. The Virgin Mary appeared under the title of the Immaculate Conception, underlining the importance of purity and grace in the Christian faith. Bernadette, simple and humble, became the channel through which this message was transmitted to the world.
A decisive turning point for Lourdes
After this sixteenth apparition, Lourdes was definitively propelled onto the international spiritual stage. The message of the Immaculate Conception reinforced the sacred dimension of the apparitions and encouraged thousands of pilgrims to come and pray at the grotto of Massabielle.
The sixteenth apparition therefore marked a key moment in the history of the Lourdes apparitions. By revealing her identity to Bernadette, the Virgin Mary gives Lourdes a unique character in the history of Marian apparitions, a place where the message of faith and humility continues to attract believers from all over the world.
