The town of Lourdes, France, has been around since the earliest days of the Church. In our own time, it is famous for being privileged by several apparitions of Our Blessed Mother to St. Bernadette Soubirous. Although this location in France has been called “Lourdes” for a very long time, it wasn’t always called by this name. It is most appropriate, however, that this place so privileged by Our Lady’s presence would have received its name in the way that it did, over a thousand years before.

Lourdes was originally a large village, home to the peaceful Bigourdans. This place was located just by the Pyrenean valleys, and so it became inhabited by many a foreign race, from the Roman eagles at the time of the Pont-Vieux across the Gave, all down through the Visigoths, Saracens, and Franks. But the story that gave Lourdes its name began during the invasion of the Saracens.

In 732, Charles Martel drove the Saracens out of France, and they headed towards Spain. In their escape, some groups of the Saracen army stopped and remained at the fortresses of Aquitaine. Among these was the castle of Mirambel, which was situated on a rock not far from Lourdes. In 778, Charlemange, on his return from Spain, laid siege to the garrison. The fortress Mirambel was surrounded by Charlemange’s men, and there was no way for the enemy to retreat. The Saracen forces trapped there were under the command of the relentless leader, Mirat, who had sworn by Mohammed that he would never surrender to any mortal man.

After many attempts to conquer the enemy, Charlemange at last resorted to reducing the Saracen troops to starvation. But even then, victory seemed hopelessly long in coming. At length, as the Saracen supplies ran low, an eagle flew over their fortress, and happened to drop a trout within their walls. Not wasting a chance to trick his enemies, Mirat flung the fish out toward the Frankish troops. From the outside, it seemed as if the Saracens - though trapped without resources - somehow had so much food that they could throw away this fish.

After such a long and hard siege, there seemed to be no limit to the supplies of the enemy fortress! Charlemange had the choice of either pressing closer with his men, which could be very dangerous against such a castle; or of giving up all hope of driving these Saracens out of France.

But the chaplain of the Frankish army, Roracius, Bishop of Le Puy, prevented Charlemange’s retreat. He suspected a trick on the part of Mirat, and obtained an opportunity to speak with the Muslim leader. Going himself to the Saracen leader, the Bishop went himself and saw the truth of the Saracen’s situation - they were all out of resources, and had nothing to survive on. The Saracens were starving, and Roracius offered again to Mirat the chance to surrender in peace. But Mirat protested to the Bishop on account of his oath. So, the good Bishop answered him saying, “Brave Prince, you have sworn never to yield to any mortal man. Could you not with honor make your surrender to an immortal Lady? Mary, Queen of Heaven, has Her throne at Le Puy, and I am Her humble minister there.”

At last freed from the bonds of his pagan oath, the Saracen leader surrendered peacefully. In spirit of his submission to his newfound Queen, Mirat agreed to bring to the sanctuary of Her church, some small bunches of grass, picked from the bank of the Gave.

Mirat also received the wonderful grace to enter the Catholic Church. He was baptized “Lorus”, and knighted by Charlemange himself. Lorus was then placed in command of Mirambel, the very fort where Our Lady obtained for him the grace to change his ways for a better life.

It is stated by many learned people, that the town of Lourdes, near where the great fortress Mirambel stood, was named after this very Lorus, the Saracen convert of Our Blessed Virgin Mary.