The relics of St Bernadette are to visit Armagh Cathedral as part of their first pilgrimage to Ireland.
The relics, which have been brought to Ireland from Lourdes in France, will visit Armagh as part of a two-month island-wide tour of Catholic dioceses.
The tour started in Galway last week, with Armagh scheduled to host the relics on October 19. They will visit cathedrals and churches all over the island.
St Bernadette, who was canonised in 1933, was born in France in 1844 and is believed by Catholics to have seen the Virgin Mary 18 times in a series of Apparitions in a cave outside Lourdes.
The sightings were authenticated by the Vatican in 1866, before she passed away in 1879.
Since she became a saint, her life has inspired generations of people across the world to make the pilgrimage to Lourdes.
The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, has welcomed the visit as a “source of hope, great joy and inspiration”.
He said: “The pilgrimage around Ireland of Saint Bernadette’s relics will be a source of hope, great joy and inspiration, especially for the many people of Ireland who have travelled to Lourdes over the years and for the dedicated groups across the island who work all year round to plan pilgrimages at parish and diocesan level.
“Of course Lourdes is synonymous with care and love for sick and disabled persons, and is a special sanctuary for those who struggle with worries or decisions of one kind or another.
“The relics of Saint Bernadette remind us of Lourdes as a place of prayer and compassion for the sick and vulnerable. Over generations, Irish people of all ages have volunteered to help in various ways in Lourdes and have been uplifted themselves by the experience of serving and caring.
“In welcoming the relics, faith communities around the country will pray in the ‘spirit of Lourdes’ and come to know the message of Our Lady, a message of enduring relevance for us today.”
Archbishop Martin continued: “Together with my brother Bishops in Ireland, I look forward to welcoming the relics of Saint Bernadette to all parts of the island. I encourage you to take the opportunity to encounter the beautiful and inspiring person that Saint Bernadette was, and to hear the powerful message she was able to convey to the world from Our Lady.
“Please pray also that many gifts and graces will be granted during this pilgrimage.”
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