The Miracle in the Monstrance: Where Christ Heals the Broken

The Beginning of a Miracle Tradition: The First Eucharistic Procession at Lourdes

In the late summer of 1888, a small but monumental idea emerged in the heart of a humble French priest. He was part of the National Pilgrimage, a movement dedicated to bringing the sick to Lourdes, a growing site of spiritual renewal and healing. It was during one of these pilgrimages that the priest proposed a new way to bless the afflicted—through a solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament. He believed that carrying the Eucharist, the very Body of Christ, through the crowds could unleash a flood of healing grace.

At the time, no one could have imagined how transformative this idea would become. Yet, what began as a quiet proposal would soon ripple across the world, bringing hope and healing to millions and cementing Lourdes as a beacon of miraculous intervention.

The First Procession: A Miracle Unfolds

The proposal quickly took root. On August 22, 1888, at exactly 4:00 PM, pilgrims gathered under the shadow of the Pyrenees Mountains to witness a profound moment. The priest, joined by other clergy, began the first Eucharistic procession through the grounds of Lourdes.

The Blessed Sacrament, housed in a golden monstrance, shimmered in the late afternoon sun as it made its way through the crowd. It was not just a symbol of Christ—it was Christ Himself, truly present in the Eucharist. As the procession moved along, priests and faithful prayed for divine mercy, and many of the sick gathered in wheelchairs, on stretchers, or leaning on crutches, waiting for the moment the Eucharist would pass them by. Among them was a man named Pietro Deloanoy, a long-suffering victim of ataxia.

Ataxia is a devastating disorder that impairs a person’s ability to control their movements, making simple tasks like walking or holding objects nearly impossible. For years, Pietro had struggled under the weight of this debilitating illness, which had slowly robbed him of his independence. As the tabernacle holding the Blessed Sacrament drew near, Pietro prayed silently, his heart heavy with both hope and desperation.

And then it happened.

In an instant, Pietro felt a surge of strength flood his body. Muscles that had long betrayed him now responded with ease. His hands steadied, his limbs strengthened, and for the first time in years, he stood up—unaided and whole. The people around him gasped, some shouting in amazement, others falling to their knees in gratitude. Pietro Deloanoy had been healed, right there, as the Eucharist passed by.

This was the first Eucharistic miracle recorded at Lourdes, and it would not be the last. The news spread like wildfire, igniting a new wave of faith and attracting more pilgrims to the sanctuary. From that day forward, the procession of the Blessed Sacrament would become a daily tradition at Lourdes—a moment of profound blessing and grace.

Building on a Legacy: From St. Bernadette to the Present Day

The miracle of Pietro Deloanoy was not an isolated event. It was, in many ways, an extension of the extraordinary grace first revealed through St. Bernadette Soubirous. Thirty years earlier, in 1858, Bernadette—an unassuming peasant girl—had experienced 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the grotto of Massabielle. The Lady, who identified herself as the Immaculate Conception, instructed Bernadette to tell the world of God’s love and invited people to come to the grotto to drink from and bathe in the spring waters that would emerge there.

From that moment on, Lourdes became a place of pilgrimage and healing. The waters from the grotto were credited with numerous physical cures, and the faithful flocked to the site, seeking both physical relief and spiritual consolation. Yet, with the introduction of the Eucharistic procession in 1888, a new chapter in Lourdes' miraculous history began.

The processions deepened the sense that the sanctuary was not just about healing waters but about encountering Christ Himself. Just as Jesus healed the sick and comforted the suffering during His time on earth, He continued to do so in Lourdes—now present under the appearance of bread in the Blessed Sacrament.

A Continuous Stream of Miracles

From that first miracle in 1888, the Eucharistic procession for the sick has continued every day without interruption. Each year, millions of pilgrims make their way to Lourdes, many of whom come carrying the heavy burden of illness, either in their own bodies or in the lives of their loved ones. As the Blessed Sacrament passes by, prayers rise like incense, and hope stirs anew in the hearts of the faithful.

Countless pilgrims have reported miraculous recoveries—some instantaneous, others unfolding gradually over time. For the Church, these miracles are powerful testimonies to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Jesus, who once walked among His people in Galilee, healing the sick and comforting the brokenhearted, now walks among His people at Lourdes in the Eucharist.

Doctors, skeptics, and believers alike have investigated many of these healings, and while not all have been officially declared miracles by the Church, the sheer volume of testimonies has cemented Lourdes' reputation as a site of divine intervention.

A Beacon of Hope for the World

Today, the Sanctuary of Lourdes stands as a shining witness to the power of faith and the reality of Christ's presence in the Eucharist. It is a place where heaven touches earth, and where the sick and suffering find comfort in knowing that they are seen, loved, and blessed by God. The tradition begun in 1888 continues to draw people from every corner of the globe, each procession echoing with the prayers of the hopeful and the afflicted.

The miracle of Pietro Deloanoy was just the beginning. Since then, the sanctuary has borne witness to an unbroken stream of miraculous healings, each one a reminder that the love of Christ knows no limits. The procession of the Blessed Sacrament, though simple in form, is a profound encounter with the Divine, where heaven’s mercy flows freely upon those who believe.

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes and in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, pilgrims continue to experience the same graces first revealed to St. Bernadette—graces of healing, hope, and peace. Lourdes remains not just a destination for the sick but a place where faith comes alive and miracles abound.

The Unbroken Tradition of Healing and Grace

From the first apparition of the Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette, to the healing of Pietro Deloanoy in 1888, to the countless miracles that continue today, Lourdes is a testament to God’s enduring love for His people. The Eucharistic procession is now a defining feature of the sanctuary, drawing pilgrims year after year to walk in the footsteps of Christ, trusting in the power of His Real Presence.

In Lourdes, the veil between heaven and earth feels thin. The Sanctuary, bathed in prayer and hope, reminds the faithful that no illness, no suffering, and no sorrow is beyond the reach of Christ's healing touch. As long as the Eucharistic procession continues, so too will the miracles—and with them, the assurance that God walks among His people, bringing healing, peace, and new life.