FRANCE -  August 15th is a special day for Catholics around the world as they celebrate the Virgin Mary’s ascent to heaven.   Many people attend holy shrines where they come together in prayer.

The largest gathering for such celebration takes place at the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains in France, near the Spanish border in a small town called Lourdes.  Each year millions of pilgrims visit this town to give homage to Our Lady of Lourdes, who, per religious reports appeared to a young girl Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.

But today’s festivities were brutally scattered by a 4 bomb scares that caused French police to evacuate over 30,000 pilgrims.

Pierre Adias, Lourdes reporter, announced:

“A bomb warning was received at the police station, announcing that four bombs were going to go off at around 3.00pm in the sanctuaries.”

Sniffer dogs were called in to check out the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica of the Rosary and the underground grotto of Saint Pius X; but no bombs were found or exploded.   Adias continued reporting:

“We’re trying to evacuate the shrines and to prevent those people who left to have lunch from coming back in. This is proceeding calmly.  The church hopes to reopen when the police gives the all clear.”

Thousands of pilgrims left the various sanctuaries without incident, and adjoining administrative and hospital buildings — including pools where sick worshipers bathe in reputedly holy water — were also evacuated.

This event highlights once again that the loss of freedom, first experienced by Americans with the bombing of the World Trade Center in New-York on September 11 2010, has extended to every corner of the world; even to a little town, securely nestled in the lush green hills of the Pyrenees where people have come together in peace and prayer for some 150 years.

 Share This Article
    

---

What's Your Opinion?

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Got A Story? Email it to our news desk at Tip Line @ Nodeju.com

---

VeriSign Inc Site Hacked

NEW YORK – One of the internet largest’s security providers site was hacked by a group who made off with undisclosed amount of private information. VeriSign Inc. which offers internet surfers… Full story

Obama To Appear On American Idol?

BEVERLY HILLS – Just a few weeks ago, the American President Barack Obama amazed the world with his singing talent when he crooned a few notes of the song ‘Let’s Stay Together’. Now the President… Full story

 Recent Searches for basilica of the immaculate conception