Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes

The Bishop makes excellent points and preaches exactly the message Mary would like him to, so do read this for a valuable perspective about the meaning of Lourdes and how Mary constantly points the faithful toward Jesus.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0800799.htm

snip

Mary did not seek devotion from St. Bernadette Soubirous and Catholics but instead sought devotion to Jesus and the Eucharist, said Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes.

In the apparitions at the Massabielle grotto, Mary led St. Bernadette to Jesus and today intercedes for pilgrims and leads them to Jesus, the bishop said at an outdoor international Mass in Lourdes Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick.

At the grotto in the Sanctuaries of Our Lady of Lourdes, a statue of Mary stands on the right side and the altar for the Eucharist is at the center, he said, because the Eucharist is the center of devotion.

"The mission of Lourdes is to be a school of prayer, a place where it is easy, natural to pray," said Bishop Perrier.Mary brought St. Bernadette to Jesus, said the bishop, noting that during the apparitions Mary was preparing the young St. Bernadette to receive her first Communion.