After a temporary closure, the Grotto of Massabielle is once again accessible to the public, but the pools require a thorough cleaning before reopening.
After heavy rains caused partial flooding at the Sanctuary of Lourdes, the Grotto of Massabielle is open to the public again. Although the pools remain closed for cleaning, pilgrims are once more gathering in prayer at this sacred site. The recovery efforts continue.
Tags: #Lourdes #SanctuaryOfLourdes #Massabielle #Pilgrimage #Faith #FloodUpdate #LourdesReopens #CatholicCommunity
Photo: Sanctuary of Lourdes/ X
Editorial (09/08/2024 09:56, Gaudium Press) On the night of Friday, September 6, and the early hours of Saturday, September 7, the department of Hautes-Pyrénées, in the southwest of France, experienced heavy rains, which caused the water levels of the Gave de Pau river, which runs alongside the Sanctuary of Lourdes, to rise. The Grotto of Massabielle and the shrine were partially flooded. Despite this, the doors of the sanctuary remained open, but the grotto had to be temporarily closed, and the mass scheduled for Saturday morning at 10 a.m. was canceled. David Torchala, the communications director of the sanctuary, stated that “the water rose quickly last night” and explained that there were no injuries, and emergency services did not need to intervene.
The Chapel of Light (where pilgrims light candles) was also affected by the flooding during the night, and the extent of the damage is yet to be assessed. However, the rest of the sanctuary remains open to the public, and pilgrims are present on-site.
“Thanks to the efforts of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes teams, the grotto has been cleaned and reopened to pilgrims,” said the sanctuary’s website. The celebrations have resumed at their usual times in all the basilicas and places of worship within the sanctuary, starting with the 6 p.m. rosary at the grotto on Saturday, September 7. No pilgrimages have been canceled, and the Chapel of Light reopened on Sunday, September 8. However, the water entering the pools requires a complete cleaning and inspection of the facilities, which may delay their reopening by a few days.
During mass in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, Pope Francis expressed his concern for the flooding that affected Lourdes and its surroundings.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
