An Unexpected Pilgrimage
I had the opportunity to visit my friends in Bordeaux, France this summer and they took me on a trip to the southwest of France, near the border of Spain, to the beautiful seaside village of Biarritz.
Biarritz has a picturesque coastline and has been a popular vacation spot since the early 1800’s when the European nobility, and even Napoleon himself, visited the area. Aside from its beautiful landscape and gorgeous beachfront, Biarritz is home to Rocher de la Vierge, the Rock of the Virgin.
The base of this uniquely shaped rock, which has been carved over time by the sea, actually looks like a ship’s hull if viewed from the right-hand side of the outcropping. Atop the base is a tall, mountain-shaped rock where there is a magnificent statue of Our Lady with young Jesus in her arms looking out to sea.
The statue was erected as a reminder of the miracle that happened there in 1865. One evening, a group of fishermen who had been out hunting whales, were caught in a terrible storm as they attempted to return to port. The waves and winds were so strong and the visibility so poor, that they feared they would all perish among the rocks along the coastline. That’s when they decided to pray to the Virgin Mary for her intercession. A moment after they had finished their prayer, a divine beam of light shone down from the top of what is now known as the Rocher de la Vierge. This beam of light engulfed their ship in its radiant light and carefully guided their ship into port, saving all who were on board. Shortly thereafter, the survivors placed a statue of the Virgin Mary there in gratitude and thanksgiving.
This miracle became so widely known that in 1866, Napolean III (ruler of Fance) commissioned the installation of a 76-meter iron footbridge to connect the rock to the mainland of Biarritz and authorized a tunnel to be hewn out of the rock to enable pedestrians to visit the sight and see the rock from all sides.
The views of the coast from the rock’s vantage point are breathtaking! Having never heard of this place, I found myself feeling particularly blessed to have been able to see it and experience its magnificence. It touched me deeply! There are so many places around the world where God has intervened in a tangible way! We often spend a lot of time researching and planning pilgrimages to big-name destinations like Israel and Fatima, but there are many places like Biarritz, just waiting to surprise us and fill us with awe and wonder. Is there an unexpected pilgrimage awaiting you?
Deb Egan grew up in a Catholic family. Throughout her adult life, she has participated as a church volunteer in many capacities, including teaching Religious Education, being a Eucharistic Minister and Lector, Ministering to the elderly and homebound, and Facilitating Small Faith Groups. She has been trained by Evangelical Catholic and became a member of the Build the Faith Team in April of 2017.
