Relics of St. Bernadette at Holy Spirit

During the first week of May each year, Knights and Dames of the Federal Association of the Order of Malta take approximately 50 Malades (French for "sick person") and their Companions to Lourdes. This annual Pilgrimage joins with other Associations from around the world for a week of Masses, visits to the Grotto, Eucharistic processions, and opportunities for the Malades to wash in the healing spring water unearthed by St. Bernadette. The 2020, 2021, and 2022 Pilgrimages have all been cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. But we are fortunate to bring the Lourdes Pilgrimage to the Archdiocese of Atlanta during the very week the Order of Malta would have made its Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

For the first time ever, the relics of St. Bernadette will tour the United States, visiting 32 parishes in 26 dioceses. Holy Spirit Catholic Church is pleased to host the relics from
May 1 – May 4. We have put together an expansive agenda to allow as many of the faithful as possible to venerate the relics while they are here. Please check back frequently as this webpage will be updated. Learn more about the tour and St. Bernadette at stbernadetteusa.org. The official website of the Sanctuary in Lourdes is:  
https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/. Receive a Plenary Indulgence with the Veneration of the Relics of Saint Bernadette.

 Information for Pilgrims

• Upon arrival at Holy Spirit, Pilgrims will be invited to venerate the relic in the Church.
• Veneration will be by exposition only; NO ONE will be permitted to touch the reliquary or the glass case surrounding it. Pilgrims are encouraged to pray silently in front of the reliquary.
• Due to anticipated crowds, Pilgrims should be respectful of others in line when venerating the relics and only expect to spend a minute in front of the relic.
• There will not be any items for sale during the tour.
• A free-will offering will be taken to support the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France.
• Interested in volunteering while the relics are in Atlanta? Please click here.

Schedule of Events

Friday, April 22 - Saturday, April 30

Novena of St. Bernadette in preparation of her visit. 

Sunday, May 1st

•   5:00 p.m. - Relics arrive; Welcome Ceremony - gather on green space outside of McDonough Hall
•   5:30 p.m. - Parish Mass for 3rd Sunday of Easter (Church)
•   6:30 p.m. - Relics available for Veneration until 10:00 p.m. (Church)
•   8:00 p.m. - Candlelight Procession RAIN OR SHINE (Parking Lot) - RSVP HERE 
                     Meet in front of statue of Mary on HSP Quad (stay on sidewalk, please) to sing Marian hymns and process to Church
                     
                     * IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, PLEASE GATHER IN MCDONOUGH HALL
•   8:30 p.m. - Bilingual Rosary (Church)
•   9:00 p.m. - Lourdes Water Ceremony (St. Mary's Chapel)
                     A brief ceremony focusing on the healing graces of Lourdes water.
• 10:00 p.m. - Veneration ends

Monday, May 2nd

•   8:30 a.m. - Votive Mass for Our Lady of Lourdes (Church) 
•   9:00 a.m. - Relics available for Veneration until 7:00 p.m. (Church)
•   9:00 a.m. - Confessions (St. Mary's Chapel Bride's Room) - until 10:00 p.m. pending priest availability
•   9:30 a.m. - Song of Bernadette movie (McDonough Hall)
• 12:00 p.m. - Rosary in English (Church)
• 12:30 p.m. - Lourdes Water Ceremony (St. Mary's Chapel)
                     A brief ceremony focusing on the healing graces of Lourdes water.
•   1:00 p.m. - Song of Bernadette movie (McDonough Hall)
•   6:00 p.m. - Parish Mass (St. Mary's Chapel)
•   7:00 p.m. - Veneration ends to prepare for Mass
•   7:00 p.m. - Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience™ with Adoration and Benediction (McDonough Hall) - RSVP HERE
                     Learn about the Message of Lourdes, touch the Grotto rock, experience the healing graces of Lourdes water, and
                     prepare a petition to be placed in the grotto in Lourdes, France
•   7:30 p.m. - Votive Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes celebrated by Bishop Shlesinger in Spanish (Church) 

•   8:30 p.m. - Veneration resumes; Rosary in Spanish (Church)
• 10:00 p.m. - Veneration ends

Tuesday, May 3rd

•   8:30 a.m. - Parish Mass (St. Mary's Chapel) 
•   9:00 a.m. - Veneration until 5:30 p.m. (Church)
•   9:00 a.m. - Confessions (St. Mary's Chapel Bride's Room) - until 10:00 p.m. pending priest availability
• 10:00 a.m. - Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience™ with Adoration and Benediction (McDonough Hall) - RSVP HERE
                     Learn about the Message of Lourdes, touch the Grotto rock, experience the healing graces of Lourdes water, and
                     prepare a petition to be placed in the grotto in Lourdes, France
• 12:00 p.m. - Rosary in English (Church)
• 12:30 p.m. - Lourdes Water Ceremony (St. Mary's Chapel)
                     A brief ceremony focusing of the healing graces of Lourdes water.
•   1:00 p.m. - Song of Bernadette movie (McDonough Hall)
•   5:30 p.m. - Veneration ends to prepare for Mass
•   6:00 p.m. - Mass with Anointing of the Sick celebrated by Bishop Konzen in English (Church) 
  
  Download Anointing of Sick Mass Flyer
•   7:15 p.m. - Veneration resumes
•   7:30 p.m. - Rosary in Spanish (St. Mary's Chapel) *will start after Mass
•   8:00 p.m. - Ceremonia del Agua de Lourdes (St. Mary's Chapel)
                     Una breve ceremonia centrada en las gracias curativas del agua de Lourdes.
• 10:00 p.m. - Veneration ends

Wednesday, May 4th

•   8:30 a.m. - Votive Mass of St. Bernadette (Church) 
•   9:00 a.m. - Veneration until 9:30 a.m. (Church)

•   9:30 a.m. - Veneration ends to prepare for HSP Mass 

•   9:50 a.m. - Holy Spirit Prep Mass (Church)

• 10:30 a.m. - Veneration resumes and continues until 12:00 p.m.

• 12:00 p.m. - Farewell Ceremony before relics depart
  
  

About the Relics

On 18th April 1925, forty-six years after her death, the body of Bernadette Soubirous was exhumed so that relics could be retrieved. The “Original Acts”, preserved in the Archives of Nevers and written in Latin, indicate that taken for the relics were:

• A fragment of the 5th rib
• A fragment of the 6th rib
• The kneecaps
• A sample of muscle, from the external part of the right femur
• Lots of hair
• And various fragments which came from muscles and skin

Learn more on the St. Bernadette USA Tour website.

What are relics and why do we venerate them?

All photos are copyrighted ©, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pierre Vincent, do not reproduce without written authorization, do not use for commercial purpose.