When I first began thinking of this film, I had just returned from Lourdes. I hadn’t gone as a pilgrim—I was there filming a documentary. But as we filmed, I was unexpectedly moved to tears, overwhelmed by a single moment of tenderness that felt unmistakably like a mother’s embrace.

For more than 150 years, pilgrims have flocked to Lourdes. In fact, it is considered the most visited Christian pilgrimage site in the world, drawing approximately six million visitors annually. But why? Why do so many make the journey to this small town in the Pyrenees?

There is something within us that Lourdes seems to unlock. To turn to Our Lady of Lourdes is to acknowledge that we need healing, physical or spiritual. It is a response to her invitation—a gentle call to come and rest in her loving embrace.

This invitation transcends religious boundaries and speaks to the universal human experience. It draws each of us in, like children returning to their mother. In a world marked by brokenness, isolation, and a longing for peace, Lourdes offers a sacred touchpoint—a place where Heaven meets earth and continues to call us toward hope, mercy, and love.

It is this unmistakable feeling that Bernadette and the Lady of Lourdes seeks to awaken in others. Through Bernadette’s eyes, viewers will find a companion for the journey—navigating the pressures of the world, the mystery of suffering and joy, and the deep peace that comes from knowing Our Mother.