Pilgrims from the Diocese of Middlesbrough travelling to Lourdes this May are being invited to lay flowers to help create a special crown for the Virgin Mary, as the shrine marks a major anniversary.
The initiative forms the centrepiece of commemorations marking the 150th anniversary of the canonical coronation of the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes—an honour granted by the Pope only in exceptional circumstances.
Organisers say the floral offering is intended to be “vibrant and accessible to all”, allowing individuals to take part in a collective act of devotion.
During the month, traditionally dedicated to Mary, yellow carnations will be placed around the statue of the crowned Virgin on the esplanade.
The flowers are intended to evoke the golden roses that appeared at Mary’s feet during her apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.
Sanctuary officials describe the gesture as both simple and symbolic: each flower representing a personal prayer, an intention or an act of thanksgiving.
The anniversary recalls events of 1876, when the statue was solemnly crowned in the presence of bishops and cardinals. Unlike the figure in the Grotto – which reflects the humble, silent appearance described by Bernadette – the crowned statue presents Mary in glory and has since become a focal point for pilgrims.
The original coronation also coincided with reported apparitions at Pellevoisin, in central France, where Estelle Faguette said the Virgin Mary appeared and declared she had come “to bring the feast to a close” – a phrase later understood to refer to the ceremonies in Lourdes.
Church tradition holds that the crowning of a Marian statue is not merely decorative, but an affirmation of Mary’s role as a spiritual mother, honoured not for power, but for tenderness and protection.
By inviting pilgrims to build a “crown of flowers” in place of gold, the sanctuary aims to renew that tradition in a participatory way, encouraging visitors to express their faith through a shared, visible offering.