Patron Saint of Lourdes Pilgrims

Category: Travel & Pilgrimage

In Catholic tradition, patron saints are holy men and women whose lives and intercession are considered especially suited to particular needs, groups, or situations. The Church's practice of invoking saints reflects the doctrine of the Communion of Saints — the belief that the faithful departed remain united with the living in the one Body of Christ and can intercede before God on our behalf.

The designation of a patron saint for "Lourdes Pilgrims" reflects centuries of Catholic popular devotion and, in many cases, formal proclamations by popes or bishops recognizing a saint's particular connection to this intention through the circumstances of their life, death, or documented miracles.

Patron Saint of Lourdes Pilgrims

Formally proclaimed patronage — sourced from canonized saints in the Roman Calendar.

Primary Patron
Our Lady of Lourdes

Feast Day
February 11

Our Lady of Lourdes is invoked as patron of Lourdes pilgrims. The Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes commemorates the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Saint Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879) at the grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, in the diocese of Tarbes, France, between February 11 and July 16, 1858. There were eighteen apparitions in all.Bernadette, the fourteen-year-old eldest daughter of an impoverished miller, recounted seeing on February 11, 1858, while gathering firewood with her sister and a friend, "a Lady" in white with a blue sash, holding a rosary, in the niche above the grotto. Sources: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1992/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_19920513_world-day-of-the-sick.html.

Read full biography of Our Lady of Lourdes →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the patron saint of lourdes pilgrims?

Our Lady of Lourdes is the primary patron saint of lourdes pilgrims. Their feast day is February 11.

What is a patron saint?

A patron saint is a holy man or woman canonized by the Church whose life and heavenly intercession are considered especially powerful for particular needs, groups, or situations. Catholics ask patron saints to intercede — to pray to God on their behalf — drawing on the doctrine of the Communion of Saints.

How do I ask for Our Lady of Lourdes's intercession?

To ask for a patron saint's intercession, Catholics typically pray directly to the saint, saying something like: "Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us." You may also light a candle, attend Mass on their feast day, or make a novena — nine days of consecutive prayer — asking for their help before a particular need.