Lourdes: a story of faith, charity
and compassion
Lourdes: a call to conversion of the heart, to simplicity, to trust.
It was here, in 1858, that the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, a poor and sick young girl, chosen to convey a message of love, prayer and mercy. This choice is no mere coincidence: Bernadette embodies the little ones, the humble, the suffering – those whom the world forgets but whom God looks upon with tenderness.
It was in this spirit that Marie Saint-Frai and Father Dominique Ribes founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows in Tarbes on 28 March 1866, rooted in Franciscan spirituality.
Moved by the message of Lourdes and by the figure of Bernadette, they sought to create a place where the sick and the poor would be welcomed as those favoured by the Kingdom.
It was here, in 1858, that the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, a poor and sick young girl, chosen to convey a message of love, prayer and mercy. This choice is no mere coincidence: Bernadette embodies the little ones, the humble, the suffering – those whom the world forgets but whom God looks upon with tenderness.
It was in this spirit that Marie Saint-Frai and Father Dominique Ribes founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows in Tarbes on 28 March 1866, rooted in Franciscan spirituality.
Moved by the message of Lourdes and by the figure of Bernadette, they sought to create a place where the sick and the poor would be welcomed as those favoured by the Kingdom.
Thanks to the faith, courage and tenacity of Father Dominique Ribes, the Hôpital des Sept-Douleurs was founded in 1874 and later became the Accueil Marie Saint-Frai, the first accommodation centre dedicated to pilgrims who are ill, elderly or in precarious circumstances – a true extension of Lourdes’ message of care and compassion.
Every action taken – whether it be providing care, listening or offering a prayer – is a response to the Virgin’s call: ‘Come here in procession’, ‘Pray for sinners’, ‘I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the next’.
Situated close to the Sanctuaries, this establishment is much more than just a place of welcome: it is a haven of peace, brotherhood and prayer, where hospitality and evangelical compassion are lived out every day.
Every action taken – whether it be providing care, listening or offering a prayer – is a response to the Virgin’s call: ‘Come here in procession’, ‘Pray for sinners’, ‘I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the next’.
Situated close to the Sanctuaries, this establishment is much more than just a place of welcome: it is a haven of peace, brotherhood and prayer, where hospitality and evangelical compassion are lived out every day.
The Sisters of Marie Saint-Frai embody this mission with simplicity and fervour. Their lives are shaped by prayer, service and an encounter with Christ through the suffering faces of those they care for. At the Accueil Marie Saint-Frai, they work alongside volunteers and professionals to provide a warm, medically supported and deeply humane environment.
In 2024, the Accueil Marie Saint-Frai celebrated its 150th anniversary. This jubilee was an opportunity to pay tribute to the legacy of Father Ribes and Marie Saint-Frai, whose prophetic insight continues to inspire generations of believers and pilgrims.
In Lourdes, the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows remains a discreet yet essential presence, faithful to its vocation: to serve out of love, to pray with trust, and to welcome with joy. Their history is one of unwavering commitment to serving the most vulnerable, in the very spirit of the message of Lourdes. It reminds us that true healing is that of the heart, and that the greatest miracle is that of love.
In 2024, the Accueil Marie Saint-Frai celebrated its 150th anniversary. This jubilee was an opportunity to pay tribute to the legacy of Father Ribes and Marie Saint-Frai, whose prophetic insight continues to inspire generations of believers and pilgrims.
In Lourdes, the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows remains a discreet yet essential presence, faithful to its vocation: to serve out of love, to pray with trust, and to welcome with joy. Their history is one of unwavering commitment to serving the most vulnerable, in the very spirit of the message of Lourdes. It reminds us that true healing is that of the heart, and that the greatest miracle is that of love.