The Bureau des Constatations Médicales in Lourdes is the professional body responsible for the scientific and medical evaluation of the alleged healings that take place in the Sanctuaires de Lourdes. Since 1859, Professor Henri Vergez of the Faculty of Medicine at Montpellier was appointed to examine the cures. Seven cures were recorded before 1862 promoting the argument for the recognition of the Apparitions by Bishop Laurence. "Medical Bureau" has two different meanings: It is, first of all, a place in the Sanctuary with two offices where a doctor practices. This doctor receives the declarations and begins an examination of the facts according to the traditional criteria as it was defined in the 18th century by Cardinal Lambertini the future Pope Benedict XIV for the process of beatification. If the case appears serious, the doctor arranges a Medical Bureau which is a consultation where all the medical doctors, regardless of their religious persuasion, present in the Sanctuary on the day may attend1. Currently (2015), the Bureau is directed by Italian physician Dr. Alessandro De Franciscis. The Bureau was formally organized by Georges-Fernand Dunot de Saint-Maclou since 18832.
The Bureau des Constatations Médicales is now hosted in one of the buildings surrounding the esplanade that were formerly facilities to house sick pilgrims ("Accueil") during their time in Lourdes and which is named Accueil John Paul II.
The Musée des miraculés
Saints Cosmas and Damian Chapel
The early 20th century location of the Bureau
At the beginning of the XXth century the Bureau was hosted in some rooms built under one of the arches of the right ramp leading to the Upper Basilica from the Rosary Square, as you can see in the following photo. The rooms were surmounted by the Saint Luke's statue which is now in the entrance hall of the Accueil John Paul II.
- Photos by Luca Borghi ti.supmacinu|ihgrob.l#| (October 2015)
- Locate the item on this Google Map
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Bibliography
- Andrea Brustolon, Georges-Fernand Dunot de Saint-Maclou - il Dottore della Grotta - fondatore del Bureau des Constatations Médicales e cofondatore dell'Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes, Velar, Gorle (BG) 2014, pp. 761