We began our second day in Lourdes with an early morning Mass in French at the Upper Basilica, also known as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. It is the second of the churches at the Sanctuary to be completed. Built in the Gothic style, the church seems to emerge directly from the rock of Massabielle and features a 70-meter spire and two smaller spires on both sides. Above the entrance is a mosaic depicting Pope Pius IX. At the entrance on the right is a marble plaqu

Our group had agreed to meet at the lobby twenty minutes after we concluded our meal. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes was a five-minute walk from our hotel, according to our Tour Director. We were going to join the Torchlight Marian Procession scheduled at 9:00 p.m. It was a good thing I went with him. There were others that left the hotel earlier and others that left after us. I wouldn’t have known the “short-cut,” if it weren’t for him. He led us to the back alley wher