Basilica of Pius X (Lourdes)

The Basilica of Pius X lies under the lawn.

Interior view of the Basilica of Pius X.

The Basilica of Pius X is an underground Roman Catholic church and minor basilica in the French Marian pilgrimage site of Lourdes . It is part of the holy district where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 . The modern church building is located east of the Rosary Basilica and south of Rosenkranz Square, holds around 25,000 visitors and is - after the St. Bernadette Church, consecrated in 1988 on the opposite bank of the Gave de Pau - the second youngest sacred building in the pilgrimage complex . The basilica is by far the largest church in Lourdes, but also the most criticized.

history

The 191 meter long and 61 meter wide underground sacred building was designed by the French architect Pierre Vago , who was advised by Eugène Freyssinet on the structural planning for the prestressed concrete construction of the large, very flat vault . The completion of the concrete basilica took place in 1957. A year later, on 25 March 1958 for the centenary of the apparitions of Lourdes, dedicated Cardinal Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII. , the church that is one of the largest Christian church buildings.

Architecture and design

The shape of the sacred building is based on an upturned ship's hull. The walls of the basilica are adorned with pictures of the stations of the cross, the mysteries of the rosary and the 18 apparitions of Mary by Bernadette in 1858. There are a total of 52 images that can be seen behind glass. There are also 34 portraits of saints and blessed from all over the world in the church, which form the so-called “way of the saints”. On the eastern ramp there are depictions of the Marian apparitions from Lourdes and stations from Bernadette Soubirous ' life. The pictures are by the French painter René Margotton (1915–2009).

The Basilica of Pius X differs significantly from the other sacred buildings in the pilgrimage district. Since it is underground, there is almost no daylight in it. There is criticism for various defects in the basilica.

organ

The organ was built in 1969 by the Spanish organ builder Organeria Espanola d'Azpeitia, and restored from 1995 to 1997 by the organ builder Pesce Frères. The instrument has 53 stops on four manual works and a pedal . The playing and stop actions are electric.

I Grand Orgue C-g 3 Montre 16 ′ Bourdon 16 ′ Montre 8th' Bourdon 8th' Flûte harmonique 8th' Prestant 4 ′ Flute 4 ′ Duplicate 2 ′ Great sesquialtera II Fittings V-VI Cymbals IV Grand Cornet IX Bombard 16 ′ Trumpets 8th' Voce umana 8th' Tremblant

II positive C-g 3 Principal 8th' Bourdon 8th' Prestant 4 ′ Flute 4 ′ Nazard 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′ Duplicate 2 ′ Fourth 2 ′ Tierce 1 3 ⁄ 5  ′ Larigot 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′ Plein-jeu V. Trumpets 8th' Cromorne 8th' Clairon 4 ′ Carillon

III Solo C – g 3 Flute 8th' Prestant 4 ′ Piccolo 1' Trumpet en chamade (D) 16 ′ Orlos en chamade 8th' 1 ° trompette en cham. 8th' 2 ° trompette en cham. 8th' Clairon en cham. 4 ′ Clairon en cham. (B) 2 ′ Tremblant

IV Récit expressif C – g 3 Bourdon 8th' Viol 8th' Dulziana 8th' Voix céleste 8th' Flute 4 ′ Flute 2 ′ Hautbois 8th' Tremblant

Pedale C – f 1 Bourdon 32 ′ Contrebasse 16 ′ Soubasse 16 ′ Bourdon 8th' Flute 8th' Principal 4 ′ Contre-bombard 32 ′ Bombard 16 ′ Trumpets 8th'

• Coupling : II / I, III / I, IV / I, I / P, II / P, III / P, IV / P

Web links

Commons : Basilica of Pius X (Lourdes)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official website (French)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Description on www.lourdes-france.org ( Memento from June 18, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
2. ↑ Information on the organ

Coordinates: 43 ° 5 '50.3 "  N , 0 ° 3' 12.4"  W.