For the first time, relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes will undertake a pilgrimage to all 26 Catholic dioceses in Ireland over the coming two months. The followers of Catholicism maintain that Bernadette Soubirous, at the young age of 14, had 18 visions of the Holy Mother between February and July in 1858, in the grotto of Lourdes, France. These visions were officially recognised by the church in 1866, prior to her death from tuberculosis in 1879 at the age of 35. She was canonised as a saint in 1933.
The Lourdes Medical Bureau has quoted as many as 70 inexplicable recoveries occurring at this location. On the third of September, which falls on a Tuesday, St Bernadette’s relics, predominantly bone fragments housed in a reliquary, will be handed over to Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin, who is currently heading the pilgrimage to Lourdes at the diocesan level. He is set to transport these relics to Knock airport the following day. From there, they will be moved to the Cathedral of Our Lady and St Nicholas in Galway.
The holy journey will go on across Ireland during September and October, and will culminate with a leaving ceremony in November at the Church of the Risen Christ in Kiltoom, Co Roscommon. As per Catholic beliefs, these relics are viewed as tangible symbols of the saints they represent and are revered by the pious as they were in proximity to individuals they consider are now close to God.
The relics of the Catholic Church’s recent saint, Carlos Acutis, are also coming to Ireland. His relics are part of the membrane that encompassed his heart and are anticipated to be displayed at St Patrick’s Parish, Corduff, in west Dublin, on September 10th. Acutis, who was conferred the title of blessed in 2020 and succumbed to leukaemia at 15 in 2006, is likely to be canonised in Rome the next month. For detailed political discourse and analysis check out our Inside Politics podcast.