The water from the Massabielle spring in Lourdes is first and foremost a symbol that Our Lady made use of, making her discover it in Bernadette on February 25, 1858 inside the Grotto.
Water and prayer
Bernadette has always taught that the water from this spring would have had no effect if it had not been used together with prayer, removing any doubts about any magical powers that some might attribute to it.
In the liturgy, water is used in the sacrament of baptism to erase original sin.
The water from the Massabielle spring, according to chemical analyzes, turns out to be a normal drinking water, drinking and washing means rediscovering the meaning and grace of the first sacrament, which makes the baptized a Christian son of the Church.
By carrying out Bernadette's gestures, pilgrims purify their souls and bodies.
Some craftsmen from Lourdes offered their free work to carry out some works in the Grotto, in order to make the source accessible to everyone.
The tanks
Casterot, a willing tinsmith, installed the first zinc tank equipped with three taps, today, to the right of the Grotto, there are thirty-four fountains that allow pilgrims to drink and wash their faces, according to the will of the Madonna.
At first it was the sick who asked to be immersed in the spring water. The construction of the first wooden swimming pool building was carried out in 1862, replaced in 1891 with a stone building.
This includes seventeen stone tanks in which pilgrims, sick and healthy, are immersed by nurses or stretcher bearers.
Possible miracles
Annually, about 4 million pilgrims who, with great faith in Christ, immerse themselves in the water of the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes.
