Immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin according to the visions experienced in 1858 by a young French girl, Marie-Bernarde Soubirous (Bernadette). Mary was incredibly beautiful. In the last but one apparition she revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, and told the girl to dig into the earth until a spring of water which has curative powers appeared.

Mary is depicted standing on the globe, with her hands pressed piously to her chest, the crescent sickle under her feet, one foot on the serpent which holds an apple in its mouth and which is a symbol of evil and sin. The white robe symbolises innocence, purity, truth, and the blue robe, the crown of the twelve stars, and the sunlight symbolise the Kingdom of Heaven. The head is covered with a white veil and less often with a crown. The Virgin Mary dressed in glory and majesty as if they were clothes radiates light, because she is the only person born without sin. Such sculptures are placed in grottos and by water springs. It is believed that water from these springs help regain vision and cure the most severe diseases.