Histoire

History

The Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes is an archconfraternity, founded in Lourdes (in the département of Hautes-Pyrénées) in 1885, legally registered as an association in accordance with the Law of 1901. 

Its full members are known as Hospitaliers, its trainees are known as Stagiaires.  They are all volunteers and come from numerous countries throughout the world.

Their mission is to welcome and accompany the thousands of pilgrims who come to Lourdes, and especially those who are sick people or disabled.

The Hospitalité: « a great modern form of chivalry »

1958 Centenary of the apparitions
Consecration of the underground Basilica of Saint Pius X by Cardinal Roncalli, the future Pape John XXIII

1949 Inauguration of the plan to improve visibility of the spring at the Grotto and installation of the glass plate which enables pilgrims to see it.

1948 First pilgrimage to arrive by air.

1933 Canonisation of Bernadette Soubirous

1928 THE 'HOSPITALITÉ NOTRE-DAME DE LOURDES IS ELEVATED TO THE RANK OF ARCHCONFRATERNITY

1901 Consecration of the Rosary Basilica  in the presence of delegations from all continents.

1888 First Blessed Sacrament Procession.
1885 FOUNDATION OF THE HOSPITALITÉ NOTRE-DAME DE LOURDES,
HOSPITALITÉ OF WELCOME IN THE SANCTUARY OF LOURDES
Mgr Billère elevates the Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes to the status of a Confraternity.
Inspired by the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem who see in the sick, the poor and the pilgrims « the poor and the sick people, our Lords »

1882 Development of facilities to welcome pilgrims and the sick people.

1878 Opening of the Hospital of Our Lady of Sorrows

1873 The Association « Notre-Dame de Salut » (Our Lady of Salvation) organises a « national » pilgrimage with 492 sick people.

1871 Blessing of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

1864 First official ceremony: Blessing of Fabisch’s Statue of the Virgin at the Grotto.

1862 The Church recognises that the Virgin did appear to Bernadette

1858 Apparitions of the Virgin to little Bernadette Soubirous