{"id":9279,"date":"2018-07-31T11:40:34","date_gmt":"2018-07-31T09:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lourdes-france.org\/orientations-pour-le-sanctuaire\/"},"modified":"2019-10-30T16:54:15","modified_gmt":"2019-10-30T15:54:15","slug":"guidance-sanctuary-lourdes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lourdes-france.org\/en\/guidance-sanctuary-lourdes\/","title":{"rendered":"Guidance for the Sanctuary of Lourdes"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Guidance of Mgr Brouwet, <\/span>Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In these pages I would like to give\u00a0 some guidelines for the future, so\u00a0 that together, chaplains and employees of the Sanctuary, hospitality members and pilgrimage directors, volunteers and partners of\u00a0 the Sanctuary can work to better\u00a0 fulfill the mission entrusted to us. My\u00a0 goal is to give a general\u00a0 direction to help in the discernment of our future plans and in the decisions that we make. Do not hesitate to raise these issues, not only at meetings in the Sanctuary, but also at pilgrimage conventions and Hospitality meetings!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cOn the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus
and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, \u201cThey have no wine.\u201d Jesus said to her, \u201cWoman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.\u201d His mother said to the servers, \u201cDo whatever he tells you.\u201d Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, \u201cFill the jars with water.\u201d So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, \u201cDraw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.\u201d So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, \u201cEveryone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.\u201d Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 [Gospel according to Saint John 2:1-11]\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cGo and tell the priests that people should come here in procession, and that a chapel should be built here.\u201d In the Sanctuary of Lourdes we are servants of the request made by the Virgin Mary to Bernadette on Tuesday 2 March 1858, during the thirteenth apparition.

What, therefore, is our mission?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • To welcome pilgrims by providing access to the Grotto and the spring, and accompanying them in the
    footsteps of Bernadette under the guidance of Our Lady.<\/li>
  • To build a Church by preaching the Gospel, and by celebrating the Sacraments of the Eucharist and
    Reconciliation.
    In this poor Grotto of Massabielle a corner of heaven touched the earth so that we may experience the
    closeness, tenderness, and joy of God, of which Mary
    is the face and the servant.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Our mission is to ensure that all those who come to the Sanctuary are touched, before the Grotto, by the unconditional love of Jesus. Our preaching, our projects, our initiatives, and our work should lead to that. This is the greatness of our responsibility: as at Cana, serving the joy of the guests under the guidance of Mary, to let the Lord do His work in our hearts; a work of mercy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Our Sanctuary must be a place where men and women who come to the Grotto understand how much\u00a0they are loved by God.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    We should always return to this mission; deepening it, developing it, and adapting it to current circumstances.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Successive Bishops, rectors, chaplains and their collaborators have learned, since the apparitions, to serve pilgrims and understand their expectations, their thirst, their aspirations. They were able to explain the messages of Our Lady and understand the scope and urgency for their time. We inherit a long history of
    celebrating the grace of God and preaching the Gospel. The 2008 Jubilee of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Mary to Bernadette showed the commitment of Catholics to the Sanctuary and its reputation in the world. It also showed vitality.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    We have gained our experience in particular by working with pilgrimage organizations, whether diocesan or associations. Each year more than 600 of these groups come to Lourdes. They represent the \u201cbackbone\u201d of our pilgrimage season and dictate the rhythm. It is thanks to them that hundreds of thousands of Christians come to the Grotto of Massabielle each year, often accompanied by their bishops.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    These guidelines are the fruit of two year\u2019s work with the Council of Lourdes, comprising chaplains and senior members of staff of the Sanctuary, who meet together every month.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    1. Proclamation of the\u00a0Gospel<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    During the coming years it is my wish that we focus our efforts on welcoming individual pilgrims, sick or disabled people, families and youth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Individual pilgrims<\/h3>

    We know well that the greater number of pilgrims who come are not in pilgrimages organised by a diocese
    or association, but make their own arrangements. They are individuals, families, groups of friends. They
    come to Lourdes for one or more days. Their pilgrimage is sometimes part of a larger trip: a holiday in
    the Pyrenees, in France or Europe. Many already know the Sanctuary. But there are many people who come for the first time and who do not know the message of Lourdes. Among them some are baptized but know little about the Christian faith. Some are not Christians, belonging to other religions or have no beliefs.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    We have a special responsibility with respect to these pilgrims. We must continue to welcome those who come on organized pilgrimages. But we need to think of new ways to welcome those who come individually, especially those who come to Lourdes without knowing what they will find or how they will experience those few hours or few days at the Grotto of Massabielle.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Let us start with an assumption: all those who enter the gates of Sanctuary have an expectation, a spiritual anticipation, because they know that in this place of apparitions heaven somehow touched the earth. But it is also a very real expectation as it relate to us, because they need to be supported in their approach.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    I wish that, in the coming months, we think about this: how to welcome, support and provide the newness
    of the Gospel to those who come on pilgrimage without knowing what Lourdes is about, without landmarks
    in the Christian faith, sometimes without even knowing how to make the sign of the cross or pray the Our Father. How are we going to meet them as they are, respecting their own rhythm, but without fear of announcing Christ?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    This is a true work of evangelization that requires availability, listening, patience and a pastoral sense.
    It will obviously involve guiding the pilgrims to existing facilities such as the \u201cday pilgrim\u201d service or films presenting the message of Lourdes. But, above all, it will also be necessary to take time with just a few people, without seeking any return.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    \u201cI dream of a \u2018missionary option\u2019, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything\u201d,\u00a0wrote Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium<\/i>, \u201cso that the Church\u2019s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today\u2019s world rather than for her self-preservation. The renewal of structures demanded by pastoral onversion can only be understood in this light: as part of an effort to make them more mission-oriented, to make ordinary pastoral activity on every level more inclusive and open, to inspire in pastoral workers a constant desire to go forth and in this way to elicit a positive response from all those whom Jesus summons to friendship with himself.\u201d Evangelii Gaudium<\/i>, 27.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    This welcome, this evangelization, is certainly first and foremost the work of chaplains and religious brothers and Sisters. But it may also be that of volunteers, including young people who have the desire to proclaim Christ by offering a true Christian initiation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    I wish, in this regard, that we propose fundamental catechesis in the Sanctuary, to give an education in the faith to those who seek to advance in the Christian life. The Sanctuary of Lourdes is an ideal place to encourage and strengthen our relationship with Christ.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    It is essential also that chaplains continue in the dynamism of the Year of Faith, to ensure the presence and
    catechesis in the Grotto, at the baths and the spring, with the desire to show the pilgrims how much they
    are loved by God. During the apparitions the Virgin Mary showed Bernadette the face of God\u2019s tenderness for humanity. This tenderness, this concern, is particularly visible in the sacrament of confession and reconciliation, which is primordial in the pilgrimage to Lourdes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium<\/i>, Pope Francis gives us the key catechesis to all our teach-
    ing: \u201cWe have rediscovered the fundamental role of the first announcement or kerygma, which needs to
    be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal. The kerygma is Trinitarian. The fire of the Spirit is given in the form of tongues and leads us to believe in Jesus Christ who, by his death and
    resurrection, reveals and communicates to us the Father\u2019s infinite mercy. On the lips of the catechist the
    first proclamation must ring out over and over: \u2018Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and
    now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.\u2019 \u201dEvangelii Gaudium<\/i>, 164.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Our objective is that each pilgrim should leave
    Lourdes with this message of hope in the heart.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Sick and disabled people<\/h3>

    In Lourdes they have pride of place. I think we can be proud of the manner in which they are welcomed, in
    particular at the Accueil Notre-Dame, by the Sisters of Saint-Frai, and at the Salus Infirmorum of UNITALSI.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Why do the sick or disabled come to Lourdes? To make a pilgrimage in faith. Our mission is to make this
    pilgrimage possible and fruitful. It is essential that each of them is involved, as far as possible, in the preparation of the pilgrimage, and that we know how to listen to them before, during and after the journey: attentive to their projects, their desires and expectations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Do not forget that often these are sick or disabled people who evangelize the \u201cable-bodied\u201d people by their commitment to Christ in their prayer, their joy and trust in the Lord. They strengthen our hope. We have much evidence of this, very often from younger pilgrims.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    In this regard, some pilgrimages seek to promote greater autonomy for the sick or disabled. It is true that
    Lourdes has a long history of supporting these pilgrims, especially through the Brancardiers and all those who assist the residents of the different Accueils. But new initiatives emerge to give the sick people the greatest possible autonomy. Some\u00a0groups offer them the possibility, for example, of staying in the hotel with valid pilgrims. I think we need to reflect, with all those who are engaged in these services, on these initiatives and our way of being present to the sick pilgrims.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Finally, we know that the number of sick people is decreasing slightly, especially those who are most
    severely afflicted. This is partly due to the increasing difficulty in transporting them to the Sanctuary by rail.\u00a0But there is another, deeper, reason: we hesitate to invite people with fragile health to Lourdes. In hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, the management is reluctant, in principle, to allow residents to travel. That is why it is families, visitors, and chaplaincy teams who, in an act of trust in God, must encourage them to go to Lourdes; not to expect a miracle, but to strengthen their faith, their hope, and their personal roots in the life of grace.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    In collaboration with Hospitalities and directors of pilgrimages, we shall put forward proposals to dioceses and chaplaincies to facilitate the journey to Lourdes by the most vulnerable people.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Families<\/h3>

    Families especially need to be supported and helped. Many of them seek places of healing in faith where
    everyone, parents and children, may be encouraged in their Christian life. Bernadette\u2019s personality, her humble spiritual journey under the guidance of Mary, the life of faith and prayer of the Soubirous family at the Boly Mill and the Cachot, and the climate of affection that reigned within it, are all subjects of meditation for families.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    In cooperation with all the departments of the Sanctuary, the Cit\u00e9 Saint-Pierre, religious communi-
    ties of Lourdes, guest houses and hotels, we shall see how we may accommodate families, particularly
    those who lack financial resources to undertake such a journey. We should also work towards providing facilities for caring for young children to give parents the opportunity to take time for themselves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Note that many grandparents take their grandchildren to Lourdes to help them discover this place of grace and healing during the holidays. We would also like to encourage and help organize such visits.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Young people<\/h3>

    The Sanctuary is a real school of life for young people: through the liturgy, the service to the sick and disa-
    bled, the experience of the universal Church. Lourdes is an ideal place to discover, live out or develop
    the foundations of the Christian life: praising God, the sacramental life, the service to others – especially the
    most fragile \u2013 opening to catholicity, meeting Christian communities in all their diversity, proximity to all
    states of life, fraternal meetings with priests and bishops – pastors of the Church.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    With the \u201cYouth Service\u201d of the Sanctuary, we will see how to develop new proposals, especially so that
    young people may be ardent witnesses of the faith in Christ among their peers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Understanding the needs of pilgrims<\/h3>

    It seems necessary to develop a survey tool to know how pilgrims judge the quality of our reception and
    facilities. It is very difficult to make decisions if we have no objective way of knowing those who come
    to the Sanctuary and whether we are meeting their expectations. Without these investigative means our
    reasoning is based on impressions or feelings that do not always correspond to reality. It is true that the
    pilgrimage directors are valuable colleagues, but we also have to collect the opinions of those who do not
    come in organized groups.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    We should also expand our dialogue space on the internet to keep in touch with pilgrims, and to note
    carefully their questions and suggestions, including those of a spiritual nature.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    2. Internationalisation\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The pilgrims from other continents are more and more numerous. They come in small groups or in
    families; sometimes with sick people, and often with young children. They come from India, Sri Lanka,
    Australia, the USA, Brazil, the Middle East, China, Korea, Japan, Africa\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Many of them come in contact with friends who live in religious communities in Lourdes (I am thinking here of the Korean, Lebanese and Chinese Sisters) and are thus introduced to the Sanctuary. We must continue
    this effort to make the Sanctuary accessible and welcoming to pilgrims from all continents.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    It is through our website that the message of Lourdes will be better understood, and also the opportunities for coming here on pilgrimage. I would like us to develop this site with versions in Arabic, Chinese and Portuguese.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    With our online TV, our site can also be a help, a support, for those who cannot come to Lourdes and
    yet want to be in communion with those who pray at the Grotto.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    We need to rework the signage in the Sanctuary. To simplify it and indicate very clearly the most important
    places connected with the pilgrimage. We should also consider the new languages so that all the pilgrims feel welcome. It will also be necessary to have leaflets containing a summary of the message of Lourdes available in these languages.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    We must also continue the work that has been done to integrate the diversity of languages in the liturgy and
    in processions. Besides the French, Italian, English and Spanish, we should always be attentive to majority
    groups present, to provide a reading, prayer intentions or part of the Rosary in their language.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    However care must be taken not to prolong the ceremonies by repeated readings in the Mass. Translation of
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    Generally speaking different languages must be welcomed to the extent of our ability. But the use of these
    languages should never take precedence over the proper conduct of the liturgy, its beauty, its simplicity or
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    Be attentive, moreover, that languages do not come into competition with each other. I ask everyone to be
    understanding about this and not to develop a spirit of discontent and division. It is the Spirit of Pentecost
    which should animate us and not the dispersion of Babel. (Gen. 11:1-9).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    3. The development of\u00a0the area of the Grotto<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The area of the Grotto \u2013 from the Rosary Esplanade to the bridge beyond the baths \u2013 is the
    heart of our Sanctuary. There are so many pilgrims precisely because the place lends itself to re-
    ceiving the grace of Lourdes. The place of the Apparitions is easily accessible; it is open to the heavens (in
    every sense of the word!). The pilgrims are welcomed onto the Esplanade as if into a mother\u2019s arms. There
    is no door to cross, no stairs to climb. They are there, immediately, on the spot where Bernadette stood be-
    fore Mary. And with all those present, irrespective of their condition, they can offer up their prayers as poor
    people before God.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    We must take care of this place of grace. In the coming three years we would like to develop it in or-
    der to:<\/span><\/p>