Lourdes Water is generated from a spring in the grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes and is protected by an illuminated glass plate. The water flows from the rock of Massabielle and is seen through the glass. The spring was discovered by St.Bernadette Soubirous during one of the apparitions, on 25th February 1858. Bernadette was told to by Our Lady "go drink at the spring and wash yourself there".
Shortly after the first pilgrimages began, Louis Bouritte, a stonemason who had lost his vision, washed in the miraculous water at the spring and regained his vision.
On April 24th1858 work was carried out to build a pool to capture the miraculous water, later water was channeled and a 450,000 liter reservoir was built below the basilicas, this now feeds many small fountains. During pilgrimage many pilgrims follow the instruction of Our Lady of Lourdes to "drink the spring water and wash there".
The baths at Lourdes were built in 1955, today hundreds of people immerse themselves each day in the Lourdes Water, including both the sick and healthy.
As many as 2,500 unexplained healings have been recorded since the first healing, of Catherine Latapie on March 1st 1858, this is just a small percentage of the unexplained healings which remain unrecorded.