Catholic Church officials in France are calling more priests to Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine to hear confessions as the country gears up to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Our Lady's apprearance to Bernadette.
Catholic Online reports, "Lourdes has been a place of pilgrimage since 1858, when St. Bernadette Soubirous, 14, experienced the first of 18 visions of Mary while gathering firewood. Although approximately 7,000 miracles have been claimed at the shrine, which is famed as a place of healing, 68 cures have been confirmed as scientifically inexplicable by the International Medical Committee of Lourdes, established by the church in 1947. "
"I ask priests of all ages to come and render this service to the innumerable people who are coming to Lourdes outside organized pilgrimages and asking to be listened to," said Bishop Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes. "I appeal particularly for this year, which is under the sign of reconciliation, and for 2008, which will undoubtedly see increased pilgrims. Don't hesitate to come."
An official website provides detailed information on the celebrations that will take place beginning on December 8, 2007 concluding the following year. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn is planning a Diocesan pilgrimage sometime in February 2008.
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