Lourdes Grotto Humbeek

Lourdes Grotto and Stations of the Cross with calvary located in the Gravenbos, north of the Sas or Kasteeldreef in Humbeek.
Monumental Lourdes Grotto with altar and Marianis in typical rocky view. Preceded by benches and a concrete shelter with imitation tree trunks as pillars and accessible via a metal pipe gate with the letters "A" and "M" (Ave Maria).
(Immovable Heritage Inventory)

The Lourdes Grotto in Humbeek was built in the early 1950s.
The plan to build this cave came about during a cabin pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1952. The cave was solemnly inaugurated on 15 August 1954 by Monsignor Cardijn, founder of the Catholic Workers' Youth. Every year on this date a special mass is held especially for the elderly, the sick and the disabled. Many comfort seekers come here daily to pray. The Lourdes cave and the Kruisweg are located in a green setting on the edge of the 's Gravenbos.

The Mother of God depicted and venerated here is the one from Lourdes. This well-known Marian pilgrimage site is located in the French Pyrenees and is visited by many people every year, including many sick people who hope for healing. The devotional image of the Mother of God has become widespread - not only in France - and believers have built Lourdes chapels and grottos everywhere.
The church's memorial day "Our Lady of Lourdes" is on February 11th, which is the anniversary of the Marian apparition (1858), when the Mother of God appeared to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in a rock grotto very close to Lourdes. Bernadette later became a nun and died at the age of just 35. On December 8th (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary) 1933, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI.
The commemoration of the Madonna of Lourdes is also World Day of the Sick.