Lourdes: Inside the World’s Most Mysterious Miracle Site - Full Documentary

Located in southwestern France, the cave

of Massabielle in Lourdes may seem like

a modest cavity in the rock, but for

over 160 years it has played an enormous

role as one of the most enigmatic holy

sites of Christianity. [music]

Each year up to 4 million pilgrims trek

here to touch the sacred rock where it

is said that the Virgin Mary appeared.

>> [music]

>> For the devoted unable to journey there,

over a thousand replicas [music] have

been constructed worldwide.

>> The scale of the wave of pilgrims

traveling to Lourdes from across the

globe is unparalleled in the history of

Christianity.

>> A place of fascination and reverence,

Lourdes is a font [music] of miracles

with over 70 cures proclaimed, often

involving the gravely [music] ill or

disabled. The most recently recognized

miracle occurred in 2008 when Bernadette

Moriau,

>> [music]

>> suffering from an incurable degenerative

lumbar root disease, made a full

recovery.

>> I'd lost all hope because I knew I would

soon be completely paralyzed.

But suddenly, in an instant, the Lord

healed me.

He gave me, so to speak, a new life.

>> Lourdes' miraculous healing power began

with the incredible story of Bernadette

Soubirous.

It would become one of the most

enigmatic accounts of the 19th century.

In 1858,

>> [music]

>> the young girl is said to have seen a

mysterious young woman dressed in white

here, who revealed to her this

miraculous fountain.

But is the young Bernadette credible?

>> Immediately, the question arises whether

Bernadette is not taking advantage of

the situation.

So, is she afraid?

Very soon though, the cures seemed to

multiply.

Tuberculosis, blindness, broken bones

[music] that heal themselves.

The most spectacular events confounded

Europe's greatest physicians in a

century where science competes with

faith.

>> Cases of healing at Lourdes have been

reported in both believers and

non-believers and with varying degrees

of connection to water, suggesting there

may be some underlying factor at play.

>> There are some very, very famous and

extraordinary cures [music]

that um really begin to puzzle the

skeptics.

So, how can we explain the inexplicable?

Experts have tried to unravel the

mystery of Lourdes by exploring

possibilities such as hypnosis,

and crowd psychology.

The faithful have also rallied to

investigate the cures. No other religion

has such an office aimed at certifying

only the absolutely incontestable cures.

>> People are free to believe it or not.

But I insist that the cases I have

followed are like reinforced concrete.

>> This is the story of an enigma that has

endured for over 160 [music] years and

proves as never before the power of

faith.

Lourdes.

The sanctuary of Lourdes, located at the

base of the Pyrenees, is recognized as

one of the top Catholic [music] sites in

the world. With a vast area of 52

hectares, it boasts three basilicas

constructed at different levels to

accommodate the continuous [music]

influx of visitors.

>> Arriving in Lourdes can be a striking

experience with its grandeur, featuring

a vast esplanade and a modern

underground basilica that can

accommodate thousands of people

resembling a spaceship and built in the

mid-20th century.

>> [clears throat]

>> With up to 4 million visitors each year,

the Sanctuary of Lourdes is the third

[music] most visited holy site in Europe

following St. Peter's in Rome and Fatima

in Portugal. Pilgrims from around the

world gather here to participate in the

Virgin Mary procession.

>> The fascination is immense [music]

because

of the crowds. Thousands, if not

hundreds of thousands of people

assembled. It's that idea, [music] I

think, of collective worship as much as

individual cure that fascinates [music]

people.

>> At the foot of the huge Rosary Basilica,

a small cave known as Massabielle

attracts pilgrims like a magnet.

It is considered the most sacred place

in the sanctuary and where it [music]

all started as believers say the Virgin

Mary appeared here in 1858. [music]

>> The reason why people visit the shrine

is to see the cave where the Virgin Mary

supposedly appeared and where the

miraculous water sprang up. Despite its

small size, the cave is the most sacred

place in the sanctuary and visitors

often gather around it trying to get as

close as possible, sometimes even

touching the walls.

>> For more than 160 years, the rituals of

Lourdes have remained unchanged.

Touching the rock and drinking the water

from the cave, a miraculous spring

believed to have been made to flow by

the Virgin herself. While pilgrims seek

to get closer to the divine, for the

400,000 sick who make the journey each

year, it is the prospect of a miracle

that brings hope.

>> People feeling that they were going to

find, if not cure, at least some form of

healing, whether that be mental or

physical.

What brings people to Lourdes? It's the

hope of that transformation.

>> Bernadette Moriau experienced a profound

transformation within herself,

which marked the latest recognized

[music]

miracle at Lourdes. Despite enduring

great suffering from a degenerative

lumbar root disease for 42 years, for

which medical treatments proved

ineffective, [music]

this nun experienced a radical change.

>> For a long time

>> The disease I was suffering from had no

cure other than pain management. Despite

undergoing two surgeries, I did not

experience any relief.

And I was [clears throat] on the brink

of paralysis.

>> [music]

>> After suffering for years from a

debilitating disease, nun Bernadette had

to rely on a medical corset, a urinary

catheter, morphine, and a neuro

stimulator to manage her pain.

However, in 2008, everything changed

after a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Just 3 days after returning home, she

experienced a miracle while praying in a

chapel.

>> A great heat shook me, followed by a

feeling of relaxation that spread

through my body. I continued to pray,

unaware of what was happening.

Later in my room, I heard an inner voice

commanding me to take off my medical

devices.

Without questioning, I obeyed without

hesitation.

>> After getting rid of all of her medical

devices,

>> [music]

>> nun Bernadette declared that she had

regained the use of her left foot,

[music] and the pain had disappeared.

Following this,

>> [music]

>> she was able to walk 5 km with her

sister-in-law, which she had been unable

to do for over 40 years.

Removing devices such as a cast can

reveal [clears throat] a loss of muscle

mass. When I removed my devices, I

discovered that my leg was like a stick,

and my back had no more muscles. but

surprisingly, I felt no pain. At that

moment, I came to understand that Mary

had interceded for me and that it was

Jesus who had healed me.

>> There is no scientific or medical

explanation for Bernadette Moriau's case

or for many other remarkable cures that

have been recognized in Lourdes over the

past 160 years.

These include cases of tuberculosis,

>> [music]

>> paraplegia, tumors, multiple sclerosis,

and others.

While 70 miracles have been officially

recognized, many more have been

reported.

>> There's only

a few cures that have been medically

confirmed, and yet there again hundreds

of people, thousands of people perhaps

alive today, who will tell you that they

were cured at Lourdes.

>> The magnitude of the phenomenon became

apparent to us as we gazed upon the

walls of the Basilica of the Rosary,

which were adorned with thousands upon

thousands of inscriptions expressing

gratitude for countless healings.

However, among this vast number, [music]

only 70 miracles have been officially

recognized.

>> The church is cautious in acknowledging

a large number of healings at Lourdes

as it could provide ammunition to those

who oppose it

and claim it as a fraud.

Therefore, the church has established a

complex system of stages, obstacles, and

safeguards to limit the number of

officially recognized cases to those

that can withstand scrutiny and

criticism.

>> What are the obstacles and how does the

church differentiate true healing from

deception?

And how is the miracle produced?

Lourdes is unique in the world as it has

[music] been attempting to prove the

miracle by science for over 160 years.

In other holy places, there are also

healings, but only Lourdes has a medical

office.

Consisting only of independent doctors,

it was set up to investigate miracles

and reject [music] any cures that might

have a natural explanation.

>> This represents a new approach as

impartial and scientific individuals who

have no religious affiliation or receive

payment from the Vatican

will be requested to provide a medical

and scientific report.

Our approach in Lourdes, which differs

from traditional religious practices,

aims to validate the diagnosis of the

pre-existing medical condition.

To ensure it was a serious illness and

then study the mechanics of the cure.

>> Doctor De Franciscis receives

approximately [music] 35 claims of

healing annually.

With the majority being promptly

dismissed. However, [music] three to

five cases undergo a thorough

investigation, which can take up to 10

years and require the expertise of

numerous specialists [music] from beyond

Lourdes.

>> Regarding the case of Sister Bernadette,

around 300 medical professionals

conducted a comprehensive assessment,

which included rheumatological,

orthopedic, and psychiatric evaluations.

The resulting archive serves as a

compelling record of the investigation.

>> It was beyond my imagination that this

archive would come to fruition and

receive recognition. I deeply respected

the humility of the doctors involved,

including those who didn't share the

same beliefs, and acknowledged the lack

of plausible explanations.

>> For a case to potentially attain

official recognition as a miracle, it

must satisfy the seven criteria

established by Cardinal Lambertini

[clears throat]

in the 17th century for the purpose of

canonizing saints. For the illness to be

considered, it must meet the criteria of

being a serious, medically recognized,

organic condition, excluding mental

illnesses, that has not responded to any

effective treatment. Thus, the illness

must be of a serious and medically

recognized nature, [music] be organic in

origin, excluding mental illnesses, and

have not responded to [music] any

effective treatment.

>> With the advancement of medical

knowledge, there exist numerous diseases

that can be treated and cured, whereas

they were previously untreatable.

Therefore, cases accompanied by

prolonged illnesses and treatments that

raise doubts are dismissed.

Regarding the purported cures, we have

received thousands of cases with a

significant portion of 35% attributed to

cancer in both males and females.

However, none of these cases have been

subjected to research investigation.

>> The medical organization requires

transparency and collaboration.

With the office's meetings being open to

any doctors who wish to attend,

irrespective of their religious or

personal beliefs.

>> Nearly 2,000 doctors have already

visited this year, and for over a

century, no one has been asked questions

regarding their religious affiliation or

baptism status. Similar to hospital and

university settings, clinical cases are

discussed based on the individual's

diagnosed and medical condition, with

the focus being purely on medicine.

>> Throughout the extended [music] process,

we strive to eliminate any plausible

explanations that could account for the

cure, one by one.

Nevertheless, the medical consultation

refrains from declaring a miracle,

instead [music] citing an unexplained

healing based on present knowledge.

>> As a doctor, and like my colleagues, we

never discuss miracles simply because

our textbooks and literature

do not contain any references to them.

Miracles are a religious interpretation

of phenomena that cannot be explained by

science or medicine and thus fall

outside the realm of scientific inquiry.

>> Ultimately, it is the bishop of the

diocese where the cured individual

resides who decides whether to recognize

the unexplained [music] healing as a

miracle.

While Lourdes medical practice has

successfully reconciled [music] faith

and science,

it has faced its own set of challenges

and controversies throughout its

history.

To fully understand the mysteries of

Lourdes, one must delve into its

tumultuous origins.

>> The success of Lourdes is unlikely and

defies expectations.

It was far from obvious and the

achievement we witness today could be

considered the true miracle.

>> In 1858, when the story of Lourdes

miracle started, the surroundings of the

Massabielle Grotto were significantly

different from [music] what they are

today.

>> It has nothing to do with the Lord of

Bernadette.

The Grotto was different.

>> [music]

>> It had no paving. It was much wilder.

>> The cave [music] was situated beneath

the town,

far from the bustling uptown and its

activity.

The place had a rather negative

reputation.

>> Lourdes was a small Pyrenean town with a

population of 4,000 during the mid-19th

century.

>> [music]

>> Bernadette Soubirous, who was 14 years

old at the time, belonged to one of the

poorest families in the town.

>> The Soubirous family were rag pickers.

During the period of the apparitions,

the Soubirous family wandered around

Lourdes picking up wood and bones, which

were used to make buttons and combs to

earn some money.

>> While searching for wood along the Gave

[music] on February 11th, 1858,

Bernadette Soubirous removed her shoes

[music] to cross the stream beside

Lould.

Suddenly, a peculiar sound freezes her

in place in front of the Massabielle

cave.

>> She described the event as follows.

As I was taking off my shoes, I heard

what sounded like a gust of wind.

I looked around, but the trees were not

moving.

When I lifted my head, I saw a young

girl wrapped in light smiling at me from

inside the hollow of the rock.

>> Bernadette Soubirous is initially

confused and unsure about the identity

of the young girl and what is happening.

In the first apparition, the young girl

does not say anything significant and

only makes the sign of the cross, which

had little significance at the time.

>> After returning home, Bernadette

confides her secret only to her sister.

However, her sister quickly spreads the

word [music] and soon the rumor is

circulating throughout the town.

The news of a young girl claiming to

have seen something in the cave quickly

spreads through the small and quiet

country town

generating a certain amount of

excitement.

Over the course of 5 months, not less

[music] than 18 apparitions occurred,

which would forever change the fate of

Lourdes.

Bernadette is soon accompanied by more

and more people on her visits to the

cave,

but they do not witness anything.

>> The assembled don't see the Virgin. All

they see is the evidence of Bernadette's

body

uh and Bernadette's countenance. [music]

And it's there that the great debate

about what is going on focuses on her.

She has a certain quote tests. She's

holding a candle and then she puts her

hand through the flame [music] and it

doesn't burn. These are all seen as

indications of the supernatural [music]

occurrence going on.

>> The people are captivated by

Bernadette's trances as the Pyrenees

[music] region has a long tradition of

miraculous stories passed down for

generations.

>> They believe in her because there's a

tradition of

appearances of the Virgin.

There is [music] in the region at least

in 40 shrines to the Virgin.

>> [music]

>> The identity of the apparition remains

elusive as Bernadette refrains from

giving a name.

>> Bernadette will always remain extremely

cautious. From the start, Bernadette is

certain of one thing, the vision comes

from heaven. However, when it comes to

the identity of the apparition, she uses

vague language like a little girl or a

lady. And even in one local dialect, she

only says "Aquerò" which can be

interpreted as either that or that one.

>> The description of Aquerò is quite

unusual. [music]

Bernadette describes seeing a young girl

dressed in white with a blue belt and

yellow roses on her feet,

estimating her [music] age to be no more

than 12 years old and describing her as

very pretty.

>> The image of the apparition does not

match the traditional depiction of the

Virgin Mary who's usually portrayed in

splendor as the Queen of Heaven with an

aura and sometimes wearing a crown of 12

stars while holding the baby Jesus.

>> Bernadette's apparition diverges from

the conventional image of the Virgin and

instead appears to originate from the

realm of Pyrenean folklore, which

abounds with fairy tales and legends of

giants.

>> And she's very struck by its diminutive

size.

And she keeps on calling it that thing

because there is there is both a magical

and a supernatural effect in this part

of the Pyrenees as in many parts of

France.

These caves are associated with fairies.

>> The 25th of February approaches,

>> [music]

>> a crucial date that marks the beginning

of the renowned Lourdes water, which is

deemed miraculous ever since.

Although the identity of the apparition

is still unknown, she supposedly uttered

the now famous words,

"Go drink at the spring and wash

yourself there."

However, there's no water to be found in

the cave.

As Bernadette reaches the cave's end,

she notices the wet floor and begins to

scratch it, revealing muddy water. She

then proceeds to apply the mud to her

face, leaving the witnesses perplexed

and commenting, "What is she doing? That

girl is crazy."

>> It is unclear why the Virgin instructs

Bernadette to drink from the muddy

water. When asked by others, Bernadette

admits that she doesn't know and simply

follows the Virgin's request. It is also

worth noting that the Virgin does not

explicitly link drinking the water to

experiencing miraculous healing.

>> After seeing Bernadette's actions, some

people started to copy her while others

were disappointed.

On the evening [music] of March 1st,

1858,

a girl named Catherine Latapie from a

nearby village who had been paralyzed in

her hand for 2 years came to the cave.

>> Upon hearing about the miraculous water

spring, Catherine Latapie decided to

visit the cave in hopes of possible cure

for her paralyzed hand. As she dipped

her hand in the water, her fingers were

healed, which she credited to the

Virgin.

This became the first authenticated

miracle of Lourdes and is still

recognized today.

>> Rumors of healing spread [music]

rapidly, and while some cases are

clearly fraudulent, others astonish the

attending doctors. [music]

The number of people flocking to the

grotto grows larger by the day. On March

3rd, Bernadette is accompanied by 3,500

[music]

people, and the following day, the crowd

swells to 7,000, [music] nearly double

the population of Lourdes at the time.

>> The novelty in Lourdes is the extensive

media coverage and press attention

surrounding the event.

Photographers were present, marking the

beginning of modern times. This, along

with the widespread media coverage and

press attention, contributed to the

growing interest in the Lourdes event.

>> As the controversy surrounding the

Lourdes affair gains [music] media

attention,

it takes on an international dimension.

Despite the mayor's attempts [music] to

prevent access to the grotto by ordering

the police, the growing crowd of curious

onlookers [music] remains undeterred and

continues to arrive.

>> The authorities are afraid of disorder.

The idea that this would bring

a religious effervescence that would be

dangerous to control. And they have

reason to. There are all kinds [music]

of other people who arrive after

Bernadette and say they too have seen

the Virgin. [music] There are all these

children who are who say they too see

the Virgin in the in the trees, here,

there, everywhere.

>> The prevalence [music] of false

visionaries has created confusion and

uncertainty about whom to trust

>> [music]

>> and even the clergy has refrained from

commenting on the matter. However, a

significant event will ultimately

[music] bring about a dramatic shift in

the situation.

While miracles and the supernatural have

been prevalent throughout the history of

Christianity, the clergy's initial

reaction to the events at Lourdes was

one of skepticism and even hostility. In

fact, at [music] the onset of the

apparitions, Father Peyramale went so

far as to prohibit the priests of

Lourdes from visiting the grotto.

The initial query that arises is whether

the reported apparitions are mere

hallucinations or if the manifestation

of the Virgin Mary is in fact authentic.

>> The clergy is always meant to be

cautious cuz they're always afraid that

there will be false apparitions and that

these are a sign of the devil.

>> Following the French Revolution, the

country has witnessed a growing

secularization trend with faith

gradually losing ground to science.

>> In the modern era of reason, science,

and media dominance, the church is

especially cautious to avoid any

acceptance that may lead to criticism.

Consequently, the default stance is one

of skepticism

with the assumption that reported events

are likely a hoax until proven

otherwise.

>> The 13th apparition occurred on March

2nd, 1858.

We still don't know the name of the

mysterious little girl,

but she would have given Bernadette a

mission. After proposing to construct a

chapel and arrive there in a procession,

Bernadette approached Father Peyramale,

the priest of Lourdes, with her idea.

[music] However, he was left even more

bewildered and promptly dismissed her

after hearing her out.

>> The crucial piece of information that

the priest lacks is the identity of the

speaking young lady, leaving him to

wonder, "Who is this girl speaking to

me?"

>> Although many believe that the young

lady is the virgin, she remains silent

and refuses to provide her name

insisting that it is unnecessary.

>> Everything would change on March 25th.

Bernadette comes running back from the

cave laden with a key piece of

information. The apparition would

finally reveal her identity.

>> As they walked, the young lady repeated

her message telling Bernadette to convey

to the priest that I am the Immaculate

Conception. However, upon hearing this,

the priest reacted skeptically.

As he believed that such a title was not

appropriate for a mere girl. Bernadette

remained silent prompting the priest to

dismiss her saying that he would see her

another day. But as the reality of the

situation dawned on him, the priest fell

to his knees and began to weep now

understanding the significance of the

young lady's message.

>> The phrase the Immaculate [music]

Conception was not just an ordinary

expression, but the same one used by

Pope Pius [music] the IX only 4 years

prior during the promulgation of the

dogma that declared Mary to be the only

woman in existence preserved from all

sin.

This dogma which had caused a great deal

of controversy [music] within the

Catholic Church was essential in nature.

The Lourdes apparitions occurring within

this context served to strengthen a

papacy that was undergoing a crisis.

>> The apparition of the virgin who

confirmed she is the Immaculate

Conception is not only a remarkable

event, but also a gift. It silences all

debates and leaves no room for doubt.

After all, how could anyone argue when

the virgin herself affirms it? This

confirmation served to unite everyone in

agreement.

>> The significance of the virgin's

confirmation of herself as the

Immaculate Conception [music]

is immense elevating Lourdes to a

prominent position for the papacy making

it a distinctive shrine in the world.

The Vatican has provided unconditional

[music] support for Lourdes for more

than 160 years which has contributed

significantly to its worldwide

recognition. As evidence of it, almost

every Pope has visited Lourdes.

>> The church's stance will be radically

changed as it takes control.

Previously, priests were not allowed to

come.

But now the situation is viewed as a

golden opportunity to promote popular

piety.

Something the church desperately needs

in today's times.

>> But such an important shrine for the

Vatican must have impeccable

credibility. [music]

To achieve this, the clergy will invest

heavily.

Since the 19th [music] century, the

church has carried out a series of

investigations to prove to the world the

events of Lourdes.

Starting in July 1858,

the Bishop of Tarbes set up a commission

of inquiry to judge the veracity of the

apparition that took place in the grotto

of Lourdes and to ascertain what

happened there.

>> That the church [music] is fighting

against the view that they are

fabricating evidence or that they are

not concerned with the [music] truth.

That science somehow

or professional history somehow has the

dominion over the truth. And that's

exactly what they want to disprove.

>> At the heart of the investigation is the

enigmatic personality of Bernadette.

It is one of the keys to Lourdes'

success.

If she lied, everything would be

questioned. But can we believe her?

Could she have been hallucinating? Or

even worse, would the whole Lourdes

story just be a hoax?

Since goods and money are deposited in

the cave, the question immediately

arises whether Bernadette is taking

advantage of the situation for the

benefit of her family

to make money somehow.

Could it be a fraud?

The entire fate of the Lourdes shrine

now rests on the young teenage girl.

In the history of Christianity, many

have claimed to have seen the Virgin.

There are at least 2,000 [music]

apparitions of Mary.

But only eight have been authenticated

by the Vatican.

Most of the time, the visionaries were

not considered reliable enough.

>> [music]

>> At first glance, Bernadette Soubirous'

profile also seems particularly

suspicious.

>> [music]

>> Her family lives in squalor.

In a single, dark, and unsanitary room

located in the town's former prison.

[music]

>> She is the ultimate dispossessed [music]

of the town.

She is the eldest daughter [music]

of

a family on the way down the social

scale. Her father [music] is widely

condemned as a drunkard. Her mother,

Louise, is seen as somebody who drinks

perhaps a bit.

>> In the beginning, the Soubirous family

was not poor and miserable. They went

bankrupt, which is not the same thing.

It gets even more serious in a way. When

we see someone who has gone bankrupt, we

always think that it's the person's

fault.

>> In Bernadette's [music] case, people

thought the cause of bankruptcy was

addiction.

And the police think she is capable of

anything to make some money.

Policeman Jacomet [music] is sent to

keep a close eye on her.

He even summons Bernadette four times to

question her at the police station.

[music]

He tries to confuse her.

If there's an attempt of imposture,

she's bound to leave evidence.

Under pressure, [music] she contradicts

herself.

From these interrogations, the

commissioner left hundreds of police

reports.

Essential documents to evaluate [music]

Bernadette's credibility. But during the

investigations carried out by the

church, access to these records was

impossible.

Commissioner Jacomet, like some

protagonist of the so-called Lourdes

dossier or Lourdes case, left with his

files.

He took away his reports and bulletins.

At the [music] end of 1858, Commissioner

Jacomet left town, but he was forever

baffled by the Lourdes affair.

It should be noted that the commissioner

was much criticized by those who were,

shall we say, in favor of the

apparitions. He, in a way, mistreated

Bernadette a little bit during the

interrogations.

One might say that he did his job as a

policeman conducting an investigation.

In 1954, the precious documents were

discovered in the shrine archives almost

by accident by [music] the

commissioner's grandson.

A century after the events, we

discovered [music] a meticulous

investigation.

In his notebook, Jacomet recorded all of

Bernadette's actions [music] and

gestures, and also the precise count of

visitors.

The records of the interrogations reveal

mostly the young girl's words.

Despite the pressure, [music]

she never runs away from her original

version of the facts.

Jacomet even accuses her of lying, and

Bernadette told him, "No, that's not

what I told you." Her testimony remains

consistent. This consistency can be seen

as evidence that supports the

credibility of what Bernadette

experienced.

Besides her consistency, another

decisive argument will further

consolidate the credibility of

Bernadette, and therefore of all the

miracles of Lourdes,

the altruism of the young woman.

>> Many people, including priests, tried to

bribe her with coin or something. She

always refused any money saying, "Money

burns me."

>> She's [music] uncomfortable with people

asking her to bless them. She keeps on

directing people back [music] to the

grotto and to the place of penitence and

prayer. And all of these are indications

again of the real thing. She's not

trying to profit

from her experience.

>> Despite the miraculous cures attributed

to Lourdes, Bernadette's fragile health

meant she was unable to benefit from

them. Sadly, she continued to suffer

from tuberculosis until her premature

death at the age of 35.

>> The cure mania was not introduced by

her. It was the people who quickly began

to claim, "I have been cured." As the

rumors spread, more and more people will

arrive seeking a miracle or a cure.

Bernadette becomes increasingly

embarrassed by this phenomenon and keeps

quiet.

>> While the apparition [music] did not

explicitly mention miracles, it was

through the remarkable healings that

occurred at Lourdes [music] that the

site became a renowned destination and

drew an increasing number of pilgrims.

>> That's [music] what's so interesting

about Lourdes. At the beginning,

there's no inevitability that it will

become the ultimate shrine for the

miraculous, which is how it is now

viewed in international Catholicism.

>> From 1862 on, the Bishop of Tarbes

oversaw the development of the shrine,

beginning with the construction of an

immense basilica into the rock formation

[music]

overlooking the Massabielle cave.

>> With the rapid growth of Lourdes

phenomenon, both on a national and

international scale, a thriving

enterprise emerged leading to the

establishment of a shrine and the

organization of pilgrimages. In order to

accommodate hundreds of thousands of

visitors, the river's path was altered

to create a vast esplanade.

>> Following the advent [music] of

organized pilgrimages and the

introduction of train services to

Lourdes in 1866, the number of visitors

began to soar, eventually surpassing

[music]

1 million by 1900. From the outset,

Lourdes was designed to cater to the

needs of the sick with spacious access

routes [music] leading to the basilicas,

two hospitals, and numerous volunteers

who assisted the infirm to the grotto.

>> It becomes a place where the ex-votos

are put so that you have the crutches

and all the instruments that have to do

with being crippled.

>> In contrast to other sites, the sick and

infirm are the central figures at

Lourdes and are honored and given

priority above all others. It's a place

where differences are embraced and

celebrated.

>> Women played a pivotal role in nurturing

this distinctive culture of caring for

the most vulnerable.

They were nuns who tended to the sick

and organized pilgrimages.

>> Without them, Lourdes as we know it

is unimaginable. The women responsible

for organizing the national pilgrimages

tend to be [music] very upper class and

aristocratic women. They have power and

they have

connections and it's often they who give

the money for the poorer people who come

on the trains.

>> Every year, 400,000 sick people come to

Lourdes with [music] the hope of

experiencing a miracle. They all come to

reenact the same gestures that the

Virgin Mary [music] asked of Bernadette,

"Drink at the fountain and wash yourself

there." The fountain has been at the

heart of the first miracles at [music]

Lourdes since March 1858.

The sick come to drink the water, rub

their faces or even their bodies with

this water, and miraculous healings

occur. So, one must try to understand

what is happening. Is it the result of

the water's intrinsic properties or is

there something else at play?

Very quickly, the water in the cave

aroused fascination and devotion. But,

what is so special about it? Is it the

same water that heals in Lourdes?

The most secret and mysterious place in

the sanctuary is the famous pools, which

are built to completely immerse the sick

in the water of the grotto.

It is the most remarkable experience in

Lourdes for pilgrims, but it is also a

challenge due to the shock of the cold

water, which is only 13°. [music]

>> Taking off all your clothes and

submerging yourself in this [music]

freezing water, and it is a glacial

um because it comes

in the mountains,

is a terrifying experience.

>> This practice of immersion is very old.

As early as the time of the Bible, water

was used for ablutions and rites of

purification. It is believed that one

should change internally before changing

externally.

Even before the pools were built, the

first miracles of Lourdes are said to

have occurred through [music] the

immersion of the sick parts of the body.

Just 4 days after the revelation of the

fountain,

>> [music]

>> Catherine Latapie regained the use of a

paralyzed hand in this way.

The next day, a Lourdes worker, Louis

Bouriette, was said to have [music]

recovered his sight.

Regardless of the veracity of these

miracles, how can we explain the fact

that the sick immediately flocked to the

[music] fountain, even though Bernadette

never spoke of a cure?

>> The connection between water and healing

is almost immediate. This is due to the

fact that water is a symbol of life and

therefore of healing in almost all

religions. That is why in the collective

imagination and popular belief of the

time, it was obvious that if there was

water, miraculous water, because it was

indicated by an apparition of the

Virgin, there would necessarily be

healing.

>> Full of superstition and magic, the

miraculous [music] fountains were then

very popular in the French countryside.

With more than 2,000 of them, each

supposedly curing a specific [music]

pathology.

However, the Lourdes fountain is

distinct from the others from the

outset.

>> Usually, these fountains are linked to

specific legends and diseases,

but that is not the case with the

Lourdes fountain. It is believed to heal

all kinds of diseases and people of all

ages and conditions,

without any specific association.

>> Eye disease, bone disease, [music] lung

disease. The first cures are very

diverse, but they have one thing in

common, the water of Lourdes as the

essential ingredient of the miracle.

That won't last.

In 1875, the announcement of an almost

unbelievable cure changed everything.

This is the story of Pierre de Ruder, a

farm worker living in Jabeca, Belgium,

more than 1,000 km from the Pyrenees.

>> A tree falls on his leg.

It breaks it, and there is there's a gap

between the bone of 3 cm, and they

actually take out they have evidence

that a doctor takes out a bit of this

bone. Everyone talks about how

disgusting the wound in is, it's

pustulant, it smells.

>> However, in 1875, a miracle seemed to

[music] have happened.

While doctors saw no other option but

amputation, Pierre de Ruder proclaimed

himself [music] healed by Our Lady of

Lourdes. The open infected fracture

supposedly healed instantly.

>> He throws away his crutches and he

walks. And what's amazing is both legs

are even the same length. And this is

considered completely remarkable. And it

has a flavor of of something so

extraordinary that's almost medieval. In

the medieval tales, there are hands that

are cut off and then that regrow.

>> Pierre de Rudder's case is so impressive

that it causes quite a stir in the

newspapers. [music]

Some accuse him of having been cured

even before the supposed miracle,

despite many witnesses claiming

otherwise.

>> [music]

>> Rudder's case will be a landmark and his

bones were even exhumed after his death

as supposed proof of the miracle.

But there is something even more

incredible.

The Belgian is officially recognized as

a miracle of Lourdes, although he never

went there.

>> [music]

>> He prayed to the Virgin of Oostacker,

Belgium in one of the many replicas of

the cave.

>> Then we might wonder, does God really

need this place in Lourdes, this spring,

this water to heal? After all, God is

all powerful, so he can heal from

thousands of miles away without the need

for direct contact.

>> That's something that the church

reinforces because it's this idea, it's

the the Virgin of Lourdes who is

interceding with her son. It's not the

place. It's It doesn't need to be

there.

>> Unlike the earlier healings,

the more recent cases have no direct

association with water.

It is through prayers to Our Lady of

Lourdes that the miracle now appears to

occur.

>> You have to remember Bernadette's line,

who never accepted the idea of

miraculous water, and who says, "Without

faith and prayer, it's no use.

It is God who heals, not the water."

This act of drinking water together

allows people to say that there is

something greater that unites us beyond

our differences and affinities.

>> With Lourdes, the clergy purges the

faith of old superstitions.

Here, it is God himself who would be

healing the sick through Mary.

But, could there be other more rational

explanations for the miracle of Lourdes?

At the end of the 19th century, the

creation of the Medical Bureau

>> [music]

>> provided the best specialists with an

exceptional opportunity to study the

miracle of close.

>> Doctors consider going to Lourdes to

examine miracles as a holy grail of

swords because it allows for scientific

investigation and progress.

>> But, for the church, having the doctors

examining the cases is a double-edged

sword.

>> But, by using science, they also

>> [music]

>> have to share authority about the

miracles, and this is potentially

problematic.

>> When the Lourdes Medical Bureau was

established in 1883, [music]

Lourdes was already world-famous.

And controversy was growing among

scientists regarding the miracles.

>> The 19th century was the century of

modernity and the rise of science,

leading to the confrontation of faith

and reason.

Therefore, a movement of intellectuals

and scientists emerged who opposed the

very idea of miracles.

>> To answer [music] the skeptics, the

Lourdes Medical Bureau opens its doors

to all doctors who want to come,

including atheists [music]

who visit the shrine to try to unravel

the mystery.

>> The doctors think they have a

to demonstrate a new phenomenon or

mechanism that can heal the human body.

They are considering the possibility of

applying it to other patients and

developing a new medical treatment or

drug that may cure diseases currently

considered incurable.

>> They want [music] just to despise it,

but at the same time they recognize that

there's something going on there that

they must investigate.

Perhaps

we need to think about healing in a more

holistic way.

>> The healings fascinate even the most

skeptical because they resist rational

explanations.

Most survivors describe a total

experience that overwhelms them.

>> They talk of a feeling

of

bodily and mental transformation that

disrupts their whole system. Sometimes

it's like an exorcism. [music]

Sometimes it feels almost like giving

birth to a child. It's as if

the illness is expelled and again the

the feeling of exorcism is important

there

or giving birth to a new person.

>> These enigmatic phenomena will capture

the attention of one of the most

renowned doctors [music] of the 19th

century. Professor Charcot, the

preeminent authority on nervous

diseases, [music]

is interested in investigating the

purported miracles that have been

associated with Christianity for

centuries. He aims to demonstrate that

these phenomena have nothing to do with

the supernatural.

>> What he's suggesting, and he [music]

actually says it, he doesn't just

suggest, is that the saints

of past ages

are nothing more than hysterics that can

now be [music] treated by France's

premier physician.

>> Hysteria was a prominent area of study

in medical research at the time.

Originally thought to be a condition

that primarily afflicted women and was

associated with the devil,

>> [music]

>> Charcot believed that it was a neuro

cerebral disease that could explain

certain seizures and cases [music] of

possession or witchcraft. The

association with Lourdes was completely

established due to the fact that 80% of

the reported miracles involved women.

This proportion was not surprising as

the majority of pilgrimages to Lourdes

were made by women. However, [music] at

that time, the preponderance of female

healings drew significant attention.

>> Closer

association between illness, healing,

and femininity raises the question which

was already being asked at the time

of whether the phenomena of miraculous

healing might be a manifestation of

individual [clears throat]

or collective hysteria.

>> Charcot believed that the symptoms of

hysteria were varied and poorly

understood.

He demonstrated that some could be cured

with hypnosis.

And he posited that the same process was

occurring in Lourdes

where the intense atmosphere of faith

and incantations led to a state of

torpor akin to hypnosis and auto

suggestion

resulting in supposed miracles among

hysterical individuals.

>> What's interesting is that anybody who

is susceptible to hypnotic

suggestibility, and he would say this

was a form of hypnosis, you know, a form

of losing your will

um was hysterical. So, in that sense

[music] then, these Catholics,

especially these Catholic women, were

all hysterics. And so, that

medicalization of faith that was hurtful

for those who were believing Catholics.

>> The controversy surrounding Lourdes

intensified [music]

as supporters and detractors clashed.

In 1895, Émile Zola further stoked the

debate by dedicating a best-selling

novel to Lourdes.

Despite experiencing miracles himself,

Zola attributed everything to

self-suggestion, adopting a misogynistic

perspective.

>> It's feminized, more gullible, {quote}

{unquote}, cuz girls were considered to

be more suggestible. [music] And there's

even a suggestion there that it's about

having to repress erotic sexual urges.

All of this is part of the anti-clerical

critique.

>> The Lourdes Medical Bureau quickly

publicly denounces Zola's methods. To

support his thesis, the novelist changes

the story of certain miracles, such as

that of Marie Le Marchand, who was cured

of lupus that was devouring her face and

is recognized as one of the 70 official

miracles.

>> Zola is criticized for not being very

honest because instead of acknowledging

the cures and stopping there, he claims

that it was not a real cure, it was not

a complete and lasting cure. At the end

of the day, these people got sick again

and died afterwards, which is not true.

>> [music]

>> The miracles of Lourdes have challenged

science for more than 160 years.

The term hysteria, previously [music]

used by medicine, is now recognized as

sexist and the symptoms described are

known to [music] correspond to a range

of disorders, including neurosis and

epilepsy.

However, the debate [music] around the

power of prayer remains relevant today

as the stories of miracles at Lourdes

continue to describe profound [music]

spiritual experiences.

>> They feel they're in communication with

something

bigger than themselves [music]

that enables them to achieve this

sense of

rebirth.

>> For me, it's a resurrection.

I feel a force that is beyond me.

I am aging

and at the same time, I don't feel it.

Well, of course, there is a tiredness

just like everybody else.

But let's say I have received some kind

of

>> [clears throat]

>> power.

>> While some believers attribute the

miracles of Lourdes to the hand of God,

>> [music]

>> others are intrigued by the power of the

mind over the body, a field of research

that is only beginning to [music] be

explored,

particularly with regard to

psychosomatic illnesses. [music]

>> We have articulated the relationship

between the soul and the body in such a

way that we can say we are capable of

making ourselves ill.

Therefore, if there are chemical and

biological processes in the body that

can cause illness,

perhaps we are also capable of

self-healing.

>> What if the miracles of Lourdes were a

manifestation of the power of faith?

Neuroscience is beginning to shed light

on the biological links between [music]

the body and mind,

particularly through the study of

mechanisms like the placebo effect and

the regenerative effects of meditation

on gray matter. [music]

In each case, the research shows the

remarkable abilities of the body to

self-heal [music]

and underscores the essential role of

the mind in the prospects for recovery.

>> As we continue to study the brain and

utilize medical imaging tools to

understand the mechanisms underlying

practices like meditation and prayer, it

must be acknowledged that we remain

limited in our understanding.

Despite the significant advancements,

the brain remains a largely

[clears throat] enigmatic subject in the

realm of science

with much yet to be discovered.

>> Still in the 21st century, the miracles

of Lourdes continue to challenge [music]

science.

While in a medical setting, we may not

refer to them as miracles, unexplained

recoveries remain a subject of

fascination in light [music] of current

knowledge.

>> I do not know the mechanism behind it

and I would describe it as

unexplainable. The novelty of Lourdes

lies in the humility to admit I cannot

explain it. I can't explain it.

>> While these healings may be seen as a

manifestation of Christian faith,

they're often also a symbol of hope,

serving as an inspiration and

encouragement to reflect there is no

such thing as a definitively incurable

disease.

>> By uniquely blending science and faith,

the miracles of Lourdes continue to

challenge [music] us and raise questions

about the profound mysteries of the

human being.