Relic of Saint Bernadette Soubirous Traveling Through Belgium in May

This May, a relic of Saint Bernadette Soubirous will travel from Lourdes to Belgium. The shrine, crafted for international pilgrimages, contains fragments of her bones and will be displayed across various dioceses.

The journey begins on April 30 at the Monasterium Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van het Fiat in Opgrimbie-Zutendaal. Over the course of the tour, the shrine will visit multiple locations, including the Lourdes grotto in Wiemesmeer (May 1), the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren (May 2), the Basilica of Dadizele (May 3–6), and the Church of Our Lady in Poperinge (May 30–31).

At each site, there will be Eucharistic celebrations, prayer moments, processions, and vigils, allowing pilgrims to honor the relic and explore the life and message of Bernadette.

Saint Bernadette Soubirous (1844–1879) became renowned following her eighteen visions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France, in 1858. Her humility and unwavering faith left a lasting impact, making Lourdes one of the most significant Marian pilgrimage sites worldwide.

After the apparitions, Bernadette joined a convent in Nevers, where she passed away in 1879. Since 1925, her body has been preserved in a glass shrine at the convent chapel. During her beatification and canonization process, several bone fragments were removed and are now housed in a separate shrine in Lourdes.

The age-old tradition of relic veneration remains vital within the Catholic faith. For many believers, connecting with a relic provides a tangible sense of closeness to the saint and God. Relics typically include remnants of saints, such as bone fragments, hair, or items they used.

The arrival of the relic serves as a tribute to Bernadette and an invitation for prayer and renewed focus on the message of Lourdes—a place where countless individuals have found comfort, healing, and peace. Pilgrims will have the opportunity to share their personal testimonies at various locations throughout Belgium.

A list of locations and the complete program can be found on the websites of the participating dioceses, with local parishes also providing their own schedules while the shrine is in their area.

Photo taken in the Willibrordus Church in St. Willebrord on April 22, 2024, during the relic of Saint Bernadette's pilgrimage through the Netherlands.