Cork welcomes famous relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes this week

A large crowd is expected to attend a West Cork church today for the pilgrimage of the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes.

Having already visited Cork’s North Cathedral yesterday, the relics are now being brought to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clonakilty.

The relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes consist of a fragment each of the 5th and of the 6th ribs, the kneecaps, a sample of muscle from the external part of the right femur, some of her hair, and various fragments which came from muscles and skin. They were retrieved when her body was exhumed in 1925.

The relics’ visit will allow pilgrims who have never had the opportunity to visit Lourdes to personally venerate St Bernadette’s relics.Previous relics to visit Ireland include those of Saint Anthony of Padua in 2016.

Bernadette Soubirous was born in Lourdes, France, in 1844 to a poor family. In 1858, she is said to have seen the Virgin Mary 18 times at the Grotto of Massabielle. The apparitions were authenticated in 1866 by the Bishop of Tarbes. The same year, Bernadette left Lourdes to work within the community of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. In 1879, having been ill for many years, she died aged 35. She was proclaimed blessed in 1925, then a saint in 1933.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin, said people will be able to make petitions in the same way that they can at the Lourdes Shrine itself.

He said: “Having just returned from Lourdes, I know of the trust and affection of the people of Cork for St Bernadette. The sending of prayer petitions is a big part of the pilgrimage. For the first time, people will be able to do this close to home.”The relics will be open to the public for veneration today, Thursday, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clonakilty from 2.30-7.45pm. This will be followed at 8pm by Concelebrated Mass and the Sacrament of the Sick with Bishop Fintan Gavin, followed by further veneration from 9-10pm.

Boxes for written petitions will be available today at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clonakilty which will be taken to Lourdes and placed with the petitions of in-person pilgrims to the shrine.

Anyone unable to visit the relics in person can submit their prayer petitions online through the diocesan website corkandross.org. These will be downloaded and sent with the written petitions to Lourdes.

Parking in Clonakilty will be in the church car park and throughout the town. Special access will be available in both places for people with mobility issues.

Live links to all events will be available via corkandross.org.