Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (Lanaudière)

Marian Advocation of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (Quebec)
Popular devotion (not officially recognized by the Church)

The town of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, in the region of Lanaudière (Quebec), is named after Our Lady of Lourdes, the result of the rapid spread of this devotion in Quebec at the end of the 19th century. The parish was erected in 1897, according to the toponyms and parish records, although this date should be taken in an approximate way. The public documentation does not record the exact date of a Massabielle type in the place.

Main data

Origin and history

The town of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, in the region of Lanaudière (Quebec), is named after Our Lady of Lourdes, the result of the rapid spread of this devotion in Quebec at the end of the 19th century. The parish was erected in 1897, according to the toponyms and parish records, although this date should be taken in an approximate way. The public documentation does not record the exact date of a Massabielle type in the place.

The image and the sanctuary

La iglesia parroquial incluye imágenes de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes y, en algunos casos, pequeñas grutas interiores o exteriores. La documentación pública menciona la devoción lourdesina del lugar, pero no ofrece detalles técnicos que permitan afirmar la existencia de una réplica formal y estable de la cueva de Massabielle, por lo que esto último queda en «no consta».

Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Lourdes is the head of the parish and gives name to the town. There is no canonical coronation of the image or a specifically documented civil patronage beyond parish sponsorship.

Party and devotion

The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is held on February 11. The Rosary is associated with the parish life, as in many rural parishes of Quebec; however, there is no special documented link, as a fellowship of the Rosary of this place.

Link to the Rosary

The link with the Rosary is narrow by the very nature of Lourdes' invocation: in Massabielle the Virgin showed herself with a rosary in her hands and taught Bernadette to pray. In this parish, which bears the name of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Rosary is part of the life of ordinary prayer, although it does not contain a practice or co-fraternity of the Rosary specifically documented and specific to the locality.