On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

The Immaculate Conception:
    In 1830 She came to Paris and appeared to St. Catherine Laboure giving her the Miraculous Medal with the inscription, O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
    In 1858 She came to Lourdes and appeared to St. Bernadette and stating, I Am the Immaculate Conception... to give thanks to the Church for the Dogma proclaimed 4 years before by Pope Pius IX   
    In all the apparitions of Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception she comes as a four year pregnant lady, as in Guadalupe, Lourdes, Miraculous Medal..
    The Immaculate Conception

    Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary conceived without sin.”

    During interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she saw. It was “something white in the shape of a girl.” She used the word aquero, a dialect term meaning “this thing.” It was “a pretty young girl with a rosary over her arm.” Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white veil. There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette was also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity.

    The Immaculate always appear as about a four months pregnant lady, here in Lourdes, in the Miraculous Medal of Paris, in the Guadalupe of Mexico...

    Through that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to revitalize the faith of millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes from other parts of France and from all over the world. In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907.

Comment:
    Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures, although there have probably been many more. Cures at Lourdes Recognized by the Church.
    To people of faith this is not surprising. It is a continuation of Jesus’ healing miracles—now performed at the intercession of his mother. Some would say that the greater miracles are hidden. Many who visit Lourdes return home with renewed faith and a readiness to serve God in their needy brothers and sisters. There still may be people who doubt the apparitions of Lourdes. Perhaps the best that can be said to them are the words that introduce the film Song of Bernadette: “For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.”

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1288
St. Bernadette of Lourdes, February 18
Lourdes Art Gallery