FIRE has damaged half of the Chapels of Light Shrines that sit on the far bank across from the baths at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.
Order of Malta member Dunstan de Souza said in his five pilgrimages to Lourdes, one of the first things his group would always do was visit the Chapels of Light Shrine.
The chapels, he said, were a space to light the pilgrimage candle and join in prayer with their pilgrims and the sick and vulnerable people journeying with them.
“The candles are a symbol of our prayer offered in faith,” he said.
“The candles also represent the light of Christ and are a symbol of our desire to remain in a state of prayer even as we do other things in our day.”
Mr de Souza was saddened to hear about the fire.
“Another hard blow for the Shrine at Lourdes, which didn’t need it,” Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes rector Father Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said on Twitter.
“But the main thing is that there were no injuries and that pilgrims can continue to pray in the chapels that remain and continue to light candles.”
In a statement, the shrine estimated damages to be a little more than $1.5 million.
An investigation into the fire has begun, but preliminary reports suggest it was an accident caused by the wind catching one of the candles and igniting the wooden frame of the chapel.
Located since 2018 on the bank opposite the place where the shrine’s baths were located, the Chapels of Light were one of the quietest places for recollection, next to the grotto of the apparitions.
The four out of eight chapels that were destroyed were located further down the river that runs through the grounds of the shrine.
Also damaged was the statue of Our Lady situated next to the river facing the Chapels of Light.
Mr de Souza said lighting the candles were especially important for the sick and vulnerable.
“The candles also connect us to the thousands of others each day who also light candles in these chapels,” he said.
“I pray they are able to be restored as soon as possible.
“The candles of Lourdes will shine again.”
