150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady in Lourdes

For a couple of years now, I have been a regular visitor the the Lourdes Shrine.
In February 2008 we celebrate the150th anniversary of the first apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous. And although Lourdes has more rooms that any other city in France, Paris excepted, it is hellishly difficult (no pun intended) to find a room for the dates of the first apparitions. Agencies have reserved blocs of rooms - whether they will be able to fill them remains to be seen - but frankly the situation looks grim for the pilgrim who eight months before the event has not yet booked a room. I found a room by a stroke of luck after an extensive search : single rooms are the most difficult to get indeed.
Over the years, the flow of people to roman catholic churches has fallen drastically to a mere trickle, but pelerinages to Lourdes hold their own and still are growing. Even when one admits that many visitors come to have a one time look at the "religious circus" in Lourdes, then to walk away in disbelief, there are millions every year who come for religious reasons and are deeply moved by their visit. No, faith is not dead yet, not by a long shot.
Ave Maria !