Thousands visit cathedral to view the relics of St Bernadette
People of all ages flocked to the cathedral to pray at the relics
REFLECTIVE, poignant and deeply moving – the visit of the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes profoundly touched the hearts of Carlovians last week at the Cathedral of the Assumption. The visit formed part of a two-month tour, which will see the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes visit each of the 26 Catholic dioceses across Ireland.
Last Monday, they arrived in Carlow, with thousands from all over the county attending the various events held as part of the visit.
“It was utterly tremendous … it was heaving with people,” Bishop Denis Nulty told .
“There was a real sense of people wanting to be touched by a saint. It was so important to people and, of course, we have this great tradition of Lourdes – it holds a very special place for people,” he added.
Bishop Nulty reflected that in his 11 years in the diocese, the visit is certainly a stand-out memorable one, a sentiment echoed by the huge numbers who attended the cathedral throughout the day.
Born in the French villages of Lourdes in 1844, 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous is said to have been visited by the Virgin Mary at the grotto there 18 times in 1858. The apparitions were authenticated by the Church in 1866 before Bernadette died of tuberculosis in 1879 aged 35. She was canonised in 1933.
The Grotto of Lourdes is visited by millions each year, with believers claiming that many miracles have been attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The relics of St Bernadette were received at the cathedral by Bishop Nulty at 10am Mass.
In his homily, Bishop Nulty said: “The unusual thing about Lourdes is that it is a shrine without relics; the focus is on water, on healing, on the sick. As the late Fr Eddie Lalor wrote some time back, ‘Lourdes defies the laws of nature, candles that do not go out, water that’s not really wet. It brings out the best in human nature – kindness, gentleness, faith, hope and charity’. In other words, Lourdes isn’t normal, and what we are privileged to have this day with us, on the Feast of the Holy Rosary, isn’t normal either. Let’s make the most of our time with the saint, the patron of carers, who remains for all of us, forever young.”
A ritual with water from the Grotto was led by Fr Thomas O’Byrne, ADM, Carlow cathedral, at noon. Mass for the sick and the sacrament of the sick was celebrated at 3pm with Fr Tom Little, PP, Askea/Bennekerry/Tinryland, while Stations of the Cross took place at 6pm, led by Graiguecullen Parish.
The visit of the relics concluded with a torchlight procession at 8pm, with large numbers once again attending.
The relics left the cathedral following prayers at 10pm, to continue their journey across Ireland.
