The Candle Factory in Lourdes

The story of the Lourdes candle began in 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous, a young girl from the village, claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary. On 19 February of that same year, during the fourth apparition, Bernadette went to the Grotto of Massabiellecarrying a lit candle anda rosary. She allowed the candle to burn down completely in her hands, without suffering any burns.

Since that event, millions of candles have been lit in Lourdes. For pilgrims, this is a sign of a particularprayer intention, a request, an expression of thanks, or an offering. The burning flame continues this personal act. For this reason, theChapel of Lights, opposite the grotto on the other side of the Gave, allows you to place your candles there. If you don’t have one, don’t worry: they are readily available.

Since 1928, millions of candles have been produced locally at the Ciergerie de Lourdes to meet a particularly high level of demand. Its artisanal production is carried out by around fifteen employees, and its unique expertise, passed down through the generations, has earned itthe ‘Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant’ (Living Heritage Company) label. Two production techniques are used:

• The dipping technique, which involves repeatedly dipping a wick held vertically on a frame into a bath of paraffin. The paraffin must remain liquid: it is kept warm in the vats into which the candles are dipped.
• The moulding technique, which involves pouring the liquid paraffin directly into moulds of various sizes. This technique allows for the production of large candles (the largest one – brace yourselves – weighs 70kg!).

Once production is complete, some candles are dipped in that famous Marian blue colour, which is the hallmark of Lourdes candles.

In Lourdes, and only there, there is an unusual profession. Have you ever heard of a ‘feutier’?

Their role is essential within the Sanctuary grounds. Every day, around ten feutiers come to change, light, clean and replace the candles. Beyond the technical aspect, the feutier also acts as a spokesperson and messenger. At the request of pilgrims who are unable to travel to Lourdes, they place hundreds of candles, each bearing a message. They tend to the flame that is lit.

If you too would like a candle-tender to place and light a candle with your prayer, please submit your request via the Lourdes Sanctuary website.