Our Lady of Lourdes refers to the title given to the Virgin Mary following her apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 in Lourdes, France. During these visions, Mary identified herself as the "Immaculate Conception" and conveyed messages of prayer and penance. The site has since become a major pilgrimage destination for Catholics seeking healing and spiritual solace. The Lourdes grotto, where the apparitions occurred, is now home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, which attracts millions of visitors each year. Many pilgrims come to bathe in the waters believed to have miraculous healing properties, and numerous reported cures have been recognized by the Catholic Church.