By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic
A statuette of St. Bernadette kneels at a grotto and waterfall meant to evoke the shrine at Lourdes, France.
People often pray at the full-size bronze statue of Mary.
Easter lilies, symbols of purity and resurrection, overshadow this celestial rendering of Mary.
This window associates a human symbol with Matthew, whose Gospel account emphasizes the humanity of Jesus.
Luke, one of the four writers of the gospel, is represented by an ox in this window. The ox is a traditional symbol of sacrifice.
Mark, one of the four writers of the gospel, is represented by a lion in this window. The lion symbolizes the royalty of the Son of God.
John, one of the four writers of the gospel, is represented by an eagle in this window. The bird symbolizes the heavenly origin of Jesus.
St. Joseph seems wrapped in reverie as he holds the Christ Child. Lilies in his left hand symbolize purity.
However, Mary, on the other side of the chancel area, is rendered in queenly pose and gazes heavenward.
The baptism of Jesus is the theme of a bas-relief behind the baptismal font.
Statuette depicts St. Bernadette as a member of the Sisters of Charity, which she joined as an adult.
Portrait shows God the Father. His role has been the subject of increased attention at many Catholic churches.
A tiny object from St. Francis is one of several relics on display at Our Lady of Lourdes.
Statuette shows St. Martin de Porres with a basket of bread, an emblem of his generosity toward the poor.
Children come to Jesus as the Good Shepherd in this statuette.
The chapel at Our Lady of Lourdes is larger than some church buildings.
Rays of sunlight stream from the Holy Spirit in the traditional form of a dove in this window, the largest in Our Lady's Chapel.
In this statuette of St. Joseph, the traditional spray of lilies has become a full-size staff.
Opposite Joseph, Mary is shown in the blue-and-white garb of Our Lady of Lourdes.
St. Jude statuette shows him with an image of Jesus around his neck. A legend says that the king of Edessa, in what is now Turkey, asked Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus instead sent Jude with his image, which healed the king.
An armored St. Michael plants a foot on a dragon's head.
A woman prays silently at the monstrance in the Adoration Chapel. The monstrance holds a consecrated host.
Standing cross at Our Lady of Lourdes has transepts in two directions, making it recognizable from more than one angle.
This statue of Mary is carried in monthly outdoor processions at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Miami.
"Have Faith in God," advises this concrete bench at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Miami.
Photography: JIM DAVIS | FC
MIAMI | Our Lady of Lourdes Church is named for one of the most prominent Marian sites worldwide, with six million flocking to southwestern France each year since the original in 1858.
The story began with a peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous. In 1858, the 11-year-old saw a "Lady in white" in a grotto. The girl was frightened, but the figure smiled and made the sign of the cross.
Photographer: Jim Davis
This statue of Mary is carried in monthly outdoor processions at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Miami.
Bernadette returned to the site for two weeks, relaying the "Lady's" requests: a procession, a chapel and "penance for the conversion of sinners." The girl even dug a hole that revealed a spring, which many say has the power to heal.
Over the next two weeks, Bernadette's reports of the apparition drew more and more visitors, eventually growing to 8,000. At her last appearance, the Lady finally identified herself — "I am the Immaculate Conception" — a title conferred on Mary four years earlier by Pope Pius IX.
Asked about her experiences, Bernadette simply said: "The Virgin used me as a broom to remove the dust. When the work is done, the broom is put behind the door again."
Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity as an adult, but developed tuberculosis of the bone and died at the age of 35. She was declared a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1933.
Her feast day is April 16, the day she died in 1879; however, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is Feb. 11, the day in 1858 when she first saw Mary.
Her namesake church in Miami was founded in 1985 for the fast-growing West Kendall area. Five years later, the congregation dedicated a home, then rebuilt after extensive damage in 1992 by Hurricane Andrew.
The current Mediterranean-style church, which can seat up to 1,200, was built in 2002. A decade later, the church began leading pilgrimages to France for physical and emotional healings.
The Miami church campus seems to resemble a Marian shrine. A grotto, lagoon and small waterfall stand beside the main church building, with a live webcam trained on it.
Statues of Mary greet worshipers around the church office building. There's even a statuette of the adult Bernadette, who conveyed visions and messages from Mary as a girl.
Photographer: Jim Davis
A statuette of St. Bernadette kneels at a grotto and waterfall meant to evoke the shrine at Lourdes, France.
