The Miracle of Lourdes refers to a series of events that began in 1858 when a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 visions of the Virgin Mary in a grotto near the town of Lourdes, France. During these apparitions, Bernadette was instructed to dig in the ground, leading to the discovery of a spring that is believed to have healing properties. Since then, Lourdes has become a major pilgrimage site for Catholics, attracting millions of visitors each year. Many claim to have experienced miraculous healings after bathing in or drinking the water from the spring, prompting the Catholic Church to investigate and officially recognize some of these miracles.