Contents
- 1 Saint Bernadette of Lourdes
- 2 The Not-Quite Incorruptible St. Bernadette of Lourdes
- 3 St. Bernadette Soubirous
- 4 Saint Bernadette Soubirous
- 5 About St. Bernadette – Patron Saint Article
- 6 More About St. Bernadette
- 7 Patronage of St. Bernadette
- 8 St. Bernadette in Art
- 9 Prayers of St. Bernadette
- 10 St. Bernadette – Saints & Angels
- 11 Bernadette of Lourdes
- 12 Visions of the “Lady”
- 13 Life After the Visions
- 14 Became a Nun
- 15 Canonized a Saint
- 16 Lourdes Today
- 17 Books
- 18 Online
Saint Bernadette of Lourdes
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is St. Bernadette of Lourdes?
Marie-Bernarde Soubirous was the original name of St. Bernadette of Lourdes, who was also known as Saint Bernadette Soubirous (born January 7, 1844, Lourdes, France—died April 16, 1879, Nevers; canonized December 8, 1933; feast day April 16, but sometimes February 18 in France), a French saint whose visions resulted in the establishment of the Marian shrine of Lourdes. Bernadette was the eldest of nine children from a working-class household; her father was a miller. She was in poor health and had to rely on others for help.
When she was 14 years old, she had a series of visions of the Virgin Mary in the neighboring Massabiellegrotto, which she experienced between February 11 and July 16, 1858.
- Despite tremendous resistance from her parents, the local clergy, and civil authorities, Bernadette stood firm in her belief in the authenticity of these visions, and she faithfully delivered Mary’s teachings.
- Eventually, she was accepted into the novitiate at the motherhouse in Nevers, where she remained until her death in 1902.
- The young woman died in anguish, gladly embracing her excruciating sufferings as a faithful fulfillment of her “Lady’s” desire for penance, which she had accepted before.
- It is reported that her body, which is kept in the chapel of the St.
- Eucharist In the French town of Lourdes, the Eucharist is being celebrated.
The Not-Quite Incorruptible St. Bernadette of Lourdes
Marie-Bernarde Soubirous was the original name of St. Bernadette of Lourdes, who was also known as Saint Bernadette Soubirous (born January 7, 1844, Lourdes, France—died April 16, 1879, Nevers; canonized December 8, 1933; feast day April 16, but sometimes February 18 in France), a French saint whose visions resulted in the establishment of the Marian shrine ofLourdes. Bernadette was the eldest of nine children who came from a poor household; her father worked as a miller. She was in poor health and had to rely on others for assistance.
- She experienced a series of visions of the Virgin Mary in the adjacent Massabiellegrotto between February 11 and July 16, 1858, when she was 14 years old.
- Despite significant resistance from her parents, the local clergy, and civil authorities, Bernadette stood firm in her belief in the authenticity of these visions, and she faithfully relayed Mary’s teachings to the world.
- The novitiate at Nevers, where she had been living since 1866, accepted her in 1866.
- The young woman died in anguish, freely accepting her excruciating afflictions in response to her “Lady’s” desire for penance.
- Her feast day is not celebrated in the Roman calendar, despite the fact that Lourdes is a popular pilgrimage destination for those seeking healing.
Gildard monastery in Nevers. Eucharist Taking place at Lourdes, France, is the celebration of the Eucharist Lima In the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the editors write about: Melissa Petruzzello has made the most recent revisions and additions to this page.
St. Bernadette Soubirous
En Espanol | St. Bernadette Soubirous(1844-1879)Incorrupt Relic |
She was born on January 7, 1844, to a very poor family and suffered from severe asthma. She was also a poor student, and it wasn’t until 1858 that she received her First Holy Communion, at the age of 14. She was born to a very poor family and suffered from severe asthma. The first of her visions occurred on February 11th, that same year, as she was collecting firewood beside the Gave River in northern Ontario. The Apparition at Lourdes is the name most Catholics are familiar with when it comes to this drama.
- It was with these remarks that the Mother of God gave official confirmation to the devout conviction that Pope Pius IX had elevated to the status of dogma of the Catholic Church four years earlier.
- There, only a little distance from Lourdes, she spent the rest of her days for the rest of her life.
- She had suffered valiantly for years.
- A construction crew retrieved the coffin from the location where it had been inmbed on September 2, 1909, in the presence of representatives selected by the cause’s postulators, two physicians, and a sister from the community who had been there.
- The arms and face had been completely undamaged by corruption and had retained their normal skin tones throughout the process.
- The rosary she held in her hands had grown rusted, and the crucifix on the mantel had been covered with verdigris.
- Aside from being put near the body, and having the double casket sealed with a seal of official approval, the remains were returned to the tomb for a last time.
- The corpse of the Venerable was discovered in the same state of preservation as it had been 10 years previously, with the exception of the face, which had become slightly discolored as a result of the washing it had received during the initial exhumation.
- Located in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette in the motherhouse in Nevers, this hallowed relic was put in a casket made of gold and glass and may be viewed there today.
Joan Carroll Cruz’s 1977 film “The Incorruptibles” provided the images for this photobiography. With permission, this image has been used. SaintsAlive! page d’accueil The most recent revision was made on March 21, 1998.
Saint Bernadette Soubirous
The Life of Saint Bernadette Soubirous Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844 in the southern French town of Lourdes, the first child of a very impoverished miller. She was the daughter of Bernadette’s father, who was also a miller. The Bernadette family was living in the basement of a rundown building when the Blessed Virgin Mary came to Bernadette in a cave above the banks of the Gave River at Lourdes on February 11, 1858. Bernadette was a young girl at the time. Bernadette, 14 years old, was regarded as a good young lady, despite the fact that she was a mediocre student who had not yet received her first Holy Communion.
- There were a total of 18 appearances, with the final one taking place on the feast of Our Lady of Mt.
- Although Bernadette’s early claims were met with suspicion, her daily sightings of “the Lady” drew large audiences of people who were intrigued by her story.
- The people were to congregate at this location to bathe in and drink from the spring that had bubbled up from the precise area where Bernadette had been commanded to dig, according to the legend.
- Her feet were decorated with yellow flowers, and she wore a huge rosary on her right arm.
- Only a few visions have ever been subjected to the kind of investigation that these apparition of the Immaculate Virgin were put through.
- Miracles have been recorded at the shrine as well as in the spring’s flowing waters.
- Bernadette endured a great deal throughout her life.
- Five years later, she submitted a petition to be admitted to the Sisters of Notre Dame of Nevers convent.
- However, within four months of her arrival, she was granted the last rites of the Church and was permitted to confess her vows.
- She passed away on April 16, 1879, when she was 35 years old.
- Reflection Millions of people have been to the spring Bernadette discovered in search of physical and spiritual healing, but she was unable to find relief from her illness there.
It was only by blind faith in things she did not comprehend that Bernadette navigated her way through life, which is something we all have to do from time to time.
Click here for more on Saint Bernadette!
“The Life and Times of St. Bernadette Soubirous” Her father was a very impoverished miller in the southern French town of Lourdes, and Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844, the first child of his family. She was raised by her grandmother and aunts in the village of Lourdes. In 1858, Bernadette was living in the basement of a decaying home when the Blessed Virgin Mary came to her in a cave above the banks of the Gave River at Lourdes. The family had been living in the basement of a dilapidated house for some years.
- She had been in terrible health since a young age, having suffered from asthma.
- Carmel.
- Bernadette claimed that the Lady had commanded her to have a chapel erected on the site where she had had visions of the Virgin Mary.
- A white robe with a blue ribbon was worn by the Lady in Bernadette’s visions, according to Bernadette, who was 16 or 17 at the time.
- Yellow roses covered her feet.
- Bernadette didn’t comprehend who the Lady was until she was told what she had said and what she meant.
- Since then, it has grown to become one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world, drawing millions of pilgrims each year.
The reality of the apparitions in 1862 was recognized by Church officials following a comprehensive examination.
Eventually, she was placed in a convent of nuns after being harassed by members of the public and city officials.
Having recovered from a period of sickness, she was able to make the trek from Lourdes and enroll in the novitiate.
But her chronic health issues remained and she was forced to work as an infirmarian and eventually sacristan.
During the year 1933, Bernadette Soubirous was declared a saint.
Throughout her life, Bernadette was directed solely by blind trust in things she did not understand—as we all must do at certain points in our lives.
Childhood challenges
The apparition of St. Bernadette of Lourdes in 1858 Bernadette Soubirous was born on January 7, 1844, in the French town of Lourdes. She was the oldest of nine children, the most of them died while they were quite little. The family was in a state of great poverty. The miller who raised her and the laundress who cared for her were both in the same profession as her mother, Louise. Bernadette had cholera as a kid and struggled with severe asthma for the remainder of her life, which she attributed to the disease.
- However, don’t be fooled by her little height.
- Bernadette had a difficult time at school since she was absent so frequently due to illness.
- Because of her lack of knowledge, she was frequently singled out by others, which disturbed her.
- Her strong, uncomplicated nature will prove to be a great asset in dealing with the events that were about to unfold in her personal life.
The woman at the grotto
Bernadette’s family had fallen into such severe straits by the time she was 14 that they were forced to live in a one-room basement that had previously served as a prison. On February 11, 1858, she and one of her sisters, as well as a friend, went out to gather firewood near the grotto of Massabielle. Bernadette experienced an amazing occurrence when she was there. The other girls and she crossed a brook in front of the grotto as she moved a bit more behind them. Bernadette was taking her steps slowly and deliberately in order to avoid getting her stockings wet.
- She was startled when she heard a rushing wind, but she couldn’t see anything but a wild rose growing in a nook of the grotto.
- Bernadette later described to the vision as “a little young lady,” which she later clarified.
- Bernadette returned to the grotto three days later, this time with another sister and several acquaintances.
- Once again, none of the other females were aware of the apparition.
- This time, the vision instructed her to return to the grotto on a daily basis for a week and a half (two weeks).
- As word spread about Bernadette’s visions, her parents attempted to prevent her from visiting the grotto out of fear that they would be humiliated by her experiences.
- Bernadette was resolved to visit the grotto, no matter what anybody else thought of her decision.
- This woman’s description was quite similar to the ones given by the statues of Mary in local churches: she was dressed in a white veil with a blue girdle around her waist and with a yellow rose on each foot.
- Bernadette followed the woman’s instructions, and the following day, the water in the grotto, which had before been murky, began to flow freely, clean water.
What more did Mary pray for during Bernadette’s visions, and what did she receive? She requested that a tiny church be erected for her on the grounds, as well as the formation of a procession. Bernadette received a communication from Mary that emphasized on the need of prayer and penance.
Fame is no match for a future saint
The narrative of Bernadette’s sightings of Mary spread fast around the world. In 1862, the Church conducted an investigation of the visions and determined that they were legitimate. Many pilgrims from all over the globe came to Lourdes in search of healing and tranquility, and the Lourdes Medical Bureau has documented 69 cures in the area. Bernadette’s story remained unchanged throughout the course of the Church’s inquiry. With confidence and even a certain detachment, she related her account to the investigators, telling one of them: “I’m charged with telling you, not with making you believe.” She didn’t want to make a grammatical or spelling error when recounting her visions.
- Bernadette was deluged with calls from journalists, fans, and even those attempting to bribe her for her time.
- When it came to narrating the visions, she was unwavering.
- She never changed as a result of the attention.
- People who receive this kind of attention are more likely to be concerned about worldly matters and to harbor a desire for celebrity.
- A rabbit hole into which it is difficult to crawl out is created.
- Bernadette in 1866, shortly after becoming a member of the Sisters of Charity.
- Instead of allowing the attention to draw her away from her Lord, she traveled to Nevers, France, where she became a member of the Sisters of Charity on July 29, 1866.
Bernard was designated as her patron saint.
The infirmary and sacristan positions she had in the monastery were both filled by her husband.
The Virgin used her as a broom to clean the dust off her visions, she said to someone who inquired about them.
She became ill with TB and died as a result of the disease on April 16, 1879.
On December 8, 1933, Pope Pius XI canonized her and declared her to be a saint.
St. Bernadette is the patron saint of bodily disease, Lourdes, poverty, shepherds and shepherdesses, and those who are mocked for their religious beliefs. She is also the patron saint of persons who are ridiculed for their religion.
About St. Bernadette – Patron Saint Article
a representation of a young St. Bernadette They would have never guessed that it would be tiny Bernadette Soubirous who would be visited by the Queen of Heaven if the people of Lourdes had been told that she would pay a visit to one of them. Because she was poor and ignorant, she went unnoticed by the majority of people. However, “God sees things differently than men do,” and the God who decided to be born in a stable chose to glorify the humble and destitute Bernadette as a result. St. Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844 to Francois and Louise Soubirous.
- They finally found themselves in the only location they could afford: an ancient, one-room prison known as “the dungeon,” since it was the only place they could afford.
- A happy family, the Soubirous remained so in spite of their trials and tribulations.
- Bernadette’s humble but joyful family life was irreversibly disturbed.
- Bernadette came across a lady who she described as “so beautiful that, once you have seen her, you would cheerfully die to see her again!” The Blessed Virgin was adorned in white with a blue belt around her waist, and a rosary was hanging from her right arm.
- Bernadette, requesting that she come to the grotto for fifteen days, vowing to make Bernadette happy “not here on earth, but in the world to come.” St.
- Local officials got more frightened and began to harass St.
- She was escorted to the police commissioner, Dominique Jacomet, who interrogated her for hours, attempting to get her to contradict herself.
She was mocked in the press, which shamelessly misinterpreted her tale.
Saint Bernadette, on the other hand, endured all of the scorn and public derision without raising an eyebrow, and she dutifully honored her commitment to visit the grotto.
Bernadette was instructed to drink and wash at a nearby spring.
Bernadette paused before drinking from the filthy water that had collected on the ground.
The onlookers scoffed at her, but later that day, pure water began to flow from the ground at the spot where St.
After some time, it was discovered that the water was the cause of several miracle treatments.
The Sacred Card of St.
St.
Because the Mother Superior feared that St.
Following St.
“O Bishop, we are at a loss for what to do,” the Mother Superior said, a cold response.
If it’s okay with you, Bishop, we can see if we can utilize her as a nurse in the hospital.” Even though St.
Consequently, she was once accused of being unproductive, to which St.
“It is my responsibility to be sick.” Throughout her life, St.
A severe tubercular growth in her right knee, as well as TB of the lungs, led to the death of this young woman.
Bernadette Soubirous.
Bernadette’s casket, which took place thirty years after her death, was a customary step in the beatification process.
Despite the fact that her rosary had rusted, there was no evidence of decomposition in St. Bernadette; she appeared to have simply gone asleep. It is still possible to see her uncorrupt body today, at the church of St. Gildard in Nevers, France.
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More About St. Bernadette
When the name of St. Bernadette is spoken, recollections of her visions of Our Lady in Lourdes, France, are frequently the next thing that comes to mind. Bernadette was selected by God when she was fourteen years old to experience visions of Our Lady, visions that would continue to inspire faith and hope for many years after her death. St. Bernadette Soubirous was born on January 7, 1844, in Lourdes, France, and is known as “the Little Flower.” She was the family’s first child, having been born as the family’s first child.
- When St.
- They took up home in an abandoned jail cell that had been declared filthy for the use of the inmates and had been abandoned.
- This disease pushed her dangerously near to death; nonetheless, she was able to recover, although with asthma and heart palpitations as a result.
- St.
- On the 11th of February, 1858, St.
- After stopping to change her shoes and socks before crossing the river, St.
- When she looked around, she noticed that everything was quiet, with the exception of a rosebush waving in the breeze.
As she stood there looking at it, she saw the golden cloud.
The day was chilly, but her bare feet, adorned with yellow flowers, shined brightly in the warmth and brightness of the setting sun.
Bernadette also pulled out her own rosary and discreetly moved her fingers over the beads as St.
The woman then vanished without a trace.
Bernadette in Her Typical Attire St.
Her father gave her permission because he believed that a lady carrying a rosary would not be a hazard to anyone.
Bernadette sprinkled holy water on her and said, “If you have come from God, please remain.” Please leave if you do not wish to continue.” Her grin brightened with each sprinkling of holy water that was applied to her.
Bernadette came the next year, the woman invited her to stay with her for fifteen days.
She then requested that St.
Every day for many days, St.
Her entourage became larger with each trip, as more and more citizens joined her in their quest to obtain a sight of the woman.
Bernadette inquired as to the source of her sadness, she said simply, “Pray for Sinners.” Following this vision, the police commissioner arrested St.
Despite the fact that he had asked her questions and recorded her responses, she claimed that he had twisted all of her words into falsehoods after reading them back to him.
Bernadette spread across the neighborhood as a result.
Each time she came to the grotto, St.
This continued for several days.
Bernadette was present on one of those days when the woman revealed three secrets to her that she was not supposed to reveal to anybody else.
When the lady spoke another time, she did it in a style that was audible to everyone in the audience.
The current configuration of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes When the woman came to St.
Bernadette followed her instructions.
Bernadette was unable to locate the spring that the lady was referring to, so the lady pointed her to a damp location on the ground where she might discover it.
Bernadette dug, although the earth was only somewhat moist at the time.
Her antics were ridiculed by everyone in attendance on that particular day.
Bernadette, on the other hand, returned later that day to see that the puddle on the ground had really transformed into a spring, and that clean water was gushing from the source.
The authorities were enraged by St.
She stayed cool and carried on with what the woman had instructed her to do.
Bernadette requested that the parish priest construct a chapel at the grotto, as the lady had requested, the priest instructed her to inquire of the lady as to her identity.
After asking the lady her name, St.
Bernadette was completely unaware of what this meant, yet she relayed the information to the priest.
In fact, it had only been four years before Pope Pius IX had conferred that title on the Virgin Mary, and St.
The priest was aware at the time that she was not making these visions up and that the Virgin Mary had in fact appeared to this little girl in person.
Bernadette for the last time on July 19, according to her diary.
When St.
However, St.
She took a sip and was instantly healed.
During her pilgrimage to France, St.
On October 30, 1867, she exchanged vows with her husband.
Bernadette had little formal education and no practical skills, the convent’s leaders were unclear about what to assign her to.
As time went on, St.
On being questioned about why she did not seek Our Lady’s healing, she responded by saying that Our Lady had informed her she would not live a long life.
In the Casket of St.
Bernadette Soubirous died on Easter Wednesday, April 16th, 1879, at the age of 35, which was a Wednesday in the Catholic calendar.
When they got inside, they discovered that her rosary had rusted and that her habit had frayed, but that her body was completely undamaged.
Bernadette Soubirous was canonized on December 8, 1933, by Pope Pius XI, who declared her a saint.
Every year, around 6 million people travel from all over the world to this magnificent place to take a bath in the curative waters of the spring. The feast day of St. Bernadette is celebrated on February 11th.
Patronage of St. Bernadette
St. Bernadette is the patron saint of the impoverished, individuals who are mocked for their religious beliefs, the ill, and shepherds, among other things.
St. Bernadette in Art
She is the patroness of the impoverished, individuals who have been mocked for their religious beliefs, the ill, and shepherds, among other things.
Prayers of St. Bernadette
O my God, I implore You, through Your loneliness, not to spare me from sorrow, but rather to ensure that You do not forsake me in it. Teach me to recognize You as my only source of comfort when I am confronted with affliction. I pray that hardship would deepen my faith, increase the strength of my hope, and purify my love. Please give me the ability to see Your Hand in my affliction and to desire no other comforter than You in my time of need. Amen.
Prayer to St. Bernadette
O God, who is the protector and lover of the lowly, It was you who conferred upon your servant, Bernadette, the favor of a vision of Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin Mary, as well as the privilege of speaking with Her. Please provide us the opportunity to see You in Heaven as we deserve. Saint Bernadette, I ask that you grant me the gift of praying in the midst of my sins by your intercession. Grant me the gift of holy remembrance, the grace of being conscious of Mary’s holy presence, and the virtue of quiet, I beg you.
Invoke for me a heroic faith, together with loving-filled confidence in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that I may serve them with honor.
Thank you, Father.
This is our request via the intercession of Saint Bernadette and the intercession of the Twin Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Prayer to St. Bernadette
Please, Saint Bernadette, who spent eighteen years at Lourdes contemplating the beauty of the Immaculate Mother of God and receiving her messages, and who afterwards desired to withdraw from the world and offer thyself as a sacrifice for the conversion of sinners in the convent of Nevers, obtain for us the graces of purity, simplicity, and mortification that we may also be granted the vision of God and Mary in the heavenly vision. Amen. Amen.
Saint Bernadette – Teach us to Serve and Pray
You had the opportunity to experience the pleasures and challenges of family life while at Lourdes. You saw Mary eighteen times at the rock. You sent a call to repentance to the sinners. The priests’ responsibility is to edify the Church of God. The parade of pilgrims is expected to arrive. You provided the name of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, as a source of information. You yearned to receive the Lord’s Body and to dwell in it with all your heart and soul. You were familiar with feelings of embarrassment and suspicion, as well as ridicule and humiliation.
- You heeded the Lord’s summons and came forward.
- Saint Bernadette instructs us on how to accept the good news.
- In solidarity with your efforts, Bernadette, WE take up our Crosses and pray: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, intercede for us sinners.” We’ll accompany you to the springs of kindness, Bernadette, and wash our clothes.
- Because of you, Bernadette, we see the other as a human being.
- We are going to the Eucharist with you, Bernadette, and we will be meeting the Lord there.
- The Church is walking in procession, following in the footsteps of Christ as a group.
Our Lady of Lourdes, intercede for us. Please, Saint Bernadette, intercede for us. Amen.
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St. Bernadette – Saints & Angels
St. Bernadette was born on January 7, 1844, in the French town of Lourdes. Despite the fact that her parents were impoverished, she was the first of nine children. On January 9, she was baptized at St. Pierre’s, the parish church in the neighborhood. Bernadette was diagnosed with cholera when she was a toddler, and she also suffered from severe asthma. Unfortunately, she suffered from poor health for the remainder of her life. It was on the 11th of February, 1858, that Bernadette, then fourteen years old, was sent with her younger sister and a friend to gather firewood when she was surprised by the appearance of a very beautiful lady above a rose bush in a grotto known as Massabielle (Tuta de Massavielha).
- When Bernadette got down on her knees, she took out her own rosary and started praying.
- Approximately three days later, Bernadette, her sister Marie, and several other girls returned to the grotto, where Bernadette immediately knelt and declared that she had seen “aquero” once more.
- It was at this point that the apparition vanished completely.
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Bernadette had daily visions of the Virgin Mary during each of her visits, and the period of daily visions became known as “la Quinzaine sacrée,” which translates as “holy fortnight.” When Bernadette began to visit the grotto, her parents were embarrassed and attempted to prevent her from doing so.
- Bernardette claimed to have had a life-altering vision on February 25, and she shared it with the world.
- The following day, the muddy waters of the grotto had been cleared and fresh clear water was flowing.
- Bernadette claimed that she had inquired about the woman’s identity, but that her question had been met only with a smile.
- A large number of people believed she was telling the truth, while others believed she was suffering from a mental illness and demanded that she be committed to a mental institution.
- The girl was subjected to extensive questioning by church officials and the French government, and by 1862, they had determined that she was telling the truth.
- The Lourdes Commission, which had initially investigated Bernadette, conducted an analysis of the water, but was only able to determine that it contained a high mineral content due to the high mineral content.
- In response to Bernadette’s request, the local priest constructed a chapel on the site of her visions, which has since become one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world.
Pius X, which can accommodate 25,000 people and was dedicated by the future Pope John XXIII while serving as the Papal Nuncio to France in the early 1900s.
Despite the fact that she considered joining the Carmelites, her health was too precarious at the time.
Sister Marie Therese Vauzou served as her Mistress of Novices, and the Mother Superior at the time gave her the name Marie-Bernarde in honor of her grandmother, who had died when she was a child.
Her humility and self-sacrifice were admired by those who knew her.
“How can I help you?” she inquired quickly.
Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the bone in her right knee, which rendered her unable to participate in convent activities.
Bernadette endured excruciating pain even on her deathbed, and in keeping with the Virgin Mary’s admonition to “Penance, Penance, Penance,” she exclaimed, “All this is good for Heaven!” even as she lay dying.
“A poor sinner, a poor sinner,” says the narrator.
The request was granted.
To mark the occasion, Bernadette’s casket was moved to the crypt of Saint Joseph’s church on May 30, 1879, when a very small service was performed to honor the occasion.
They said that the crucifix and rosary she was carrying had been oxidized, but that her flesh had remained uncontaminated.
A fresh double coffin was used to bury Bernadette’s body after it had been cleansed and clothed by the group.
“The skin has evaporated in certain areas, but it is still there on the majority of the body,” says the scientist.
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It was this time when relics were transported to Rome, and an impression of her face was formed, which was then used to produce a wax mask, which was then put on her corpse.
“I would have loved to open the left side of the thorax to take the ribs as relics and then extract the heart, which I am positive must have survived,” Doctor Comte wrote in the second edition of the Bulletin de I’Association medicale de Notre-Dame de Lourdes in 1928, describing Bernadette’s exhumation.
Normally, one would expect this organ, which is essentially fragile and prone to crumbling, to have disintegrated very quickly or hardened into a powdery substance.
The people in the audience were surprised when I pointed out that this did not appear to be a natural phenomena.” Saint Bernadette is frequently shown in prayer, holding a rosary or making an appeal to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Her beatification took place in 1925, and she was canonized by Pope Pius XI in December 1933. In addition to sickness, Saint Bernadette is the patroness of persons who have been mocked for their piety, poverty, sheepherders, shepherdesses, and the town of Lourdes in France.
Bernadette of Lourdes
Bernadette of Lourdes (1844-1879), a young peasant girl from France, saw 18 visions of the Virgin Mary while praying in a cave in the town of Lourdes. As a result of these visions, and the curative waters that still flow there, a religious shrine was built, which attracts millions of visitors each year. Bernadette subsequently became a Roman Catholic nun, and she was canonized as a saint in 1933, the same year that she was born. Marie Bernarde Soubirous was born on January 7, 1844, in Lourdes, France, to Francois and Louise (Casterot) Soubirous.
- She was the eldest of their six children and the first to graduate from high school (three other children died as infants).
- She was also ill, having suffered from asthma for the majority of her life.
- In addition, many of the residents were destitute, with their dwellings being chilly and miserable.
- The Soubirous family was a group of peasants who lived in extreme poverty.
- Frenchman Francois Soubirous, although being regarded as “a good-natured, easy-going man,” was not a successful businessman.
- He also stated that he had been “characterized as unpleasant, which resulted in commercial difficulties.” The author describes Bernadette’s mother as “gregarious and large-hearted,” despite the fact that she was notorious for being harsh with her children.
- Her parents were frequently concerned about the health and frailty of their first child, and they attempted to provide her with additional nourishment on a regular basis.
- Because of Bernadette’s failing health and the family’s financial predicament, her parents eventually began to separate her from her siblings and sent her to live with relatives and acquaintances.
- She worked as a shepherdess, which was a lonely position in which she had only the sheep and her rosary for company.
On the other hand, Bernadette’s foster mother, Marie Lagues, noted (on the official website of Lourdes France), “Bernadette, in spite of the fatigue that was induced by her shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing, always seemed pleasant and cheerful.” A parish assistant priest from the Parish of Lourdes stated that “Bernadette exuded innocence, simplicity, and goodwill in all she did.” The story goes that Bernadette returned to Lourdes with her family a few weeks after her fourteenth birthday, as related by Brother Ernest.
As a kid, he remembered her as “still a fragile girl who was terribly affected by asthma, silent, and who was completely dedicated to the recitation of the rosary.” Her life was about to take a significant turn for the worst.
Visions of the “Lady”
It was the evening of February 11, 1858, when the incident occurred. In order to prepare for the next winter, Bernadette and two colleagues were dispatched to gather twigs and sticks for the fireplace. At some point, their journey brought them to the Grotto (cave) of Massabielle. When writing about Lourdes in his book, Brother Ernest stated that “no wilder, more savage, or isolated site could be found in the entire world.” According to the official website of the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, “Bernadette was startled by a noise that sounded like a blast of wind and then saw a light.
- It was none other than the Virgin Mary.” Bernadette bowed her head and began to pray.
- Bernadette came home and informed her parents of the vision she had had.
- Bernadette went to confession at church, informing the priest who was preparing her for First Communion that she had seen the “Lady.” The priest was surprised and thought Bernadette was lying.
- Following her initial vision, Bernadette returned to the grotto on February 14, when she experienced her second vision three days after the first.
- It is reported that on this day, the “Lady” appeared to Bernadette and urged her to make a promise: she would return to the grotto every day for the next 15 days.
The “Lady” then revealed with Bernadette, according to theCatholic Onlinewebsite, “I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but I do promise to make you happy in the next.” In Lourdes, the reports of Bernadette’s visions began to spread among the general public and to those in charge of the local government.
- They attempted to deceive her in the hopes of catching her in a lie.
- Bernadette proceeded to reveal the truth, telling the narrative of her visions to anyone who were interested.
- According to the official website of Lourdes France, the Grotto immediately became “a place of prayer, a place of meeting, and a place of devotion.” When Bernadette walked to the grotto, a small to very large crowd began to swarm around her.
- The images persisted for a little longer.
- According to Brother Ernest, during the ninth vision, which took place on February 25, the “Lady” instructed Bernadette to drink water that was gushing up from the ground as well as wash in it, which she did.
- As she did so, the water began to pour in a stream in the direction of the audience.
- In the twelfth vision, which took place on March 2, the “Lady” instructed Bernadette to go to the priests and request that a chapel be erected at the grotto.
On July 16, the Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the “Lady” made her final visit to Bernadette, and it was her last appearance to anybody else. Bernadette experienced a total of 18 visions over the course of five months.
Life After the Visions
February 11th, 1858, was a Friday evening. In order to prepare for the next winter, Bernadette and two colleagues were dispatched to gather twigs and wood for the campfire. The Grotto (cave) of Massabielle was the final destination on their journey. Brother Ernest said in his book that “there could not be a wilder, more savage, or more lonesome area than Lourdes.” Lourdes France’s official website describes the story of the shrine’s foundation “In the distance, Bernadette could hear what sounded like a gust of wind and noticed a light.
- Her name was Mary, and she was the one who spoke to me.” In the midst of her prayer, Bernadette was overcome with emotion.
- Her parents were informed of the vision after Bernadette came home.
- Bernadette went to confession at the church, informing the priest who was preparing her for First Communion that she had seen the “Lady.” The priest was surprised and thought Bernadette was lying.
- After her initial vision, Bernadette returned to the grotto on February 14, when she experienced her second vision three days after her first.
- The “Lady” is said to have appeared to Bernadette on this day and urged her to make a promise: she would visit the grotto every day for the next 15 days, according to legend.
- As Brother Ernest pointed out, she was confronted by dubious local officials.
- A jail sentence had been threatened against her.
She was generally believed by her fellow citizens in Lourdes.
When Bernadette walked to the grotto, a small to very large throng began to swell.
The images persisted for the rest of the night.
Brother Ernest reported that during the ninth vision, which occurred on February 25, the “Lady” instructed Bernadette to drink water that was gushing up from the earth and wash in it.
As she did so, the water began to pour in a stream in the direction of the gathering.
In the twelfth vision, which took place on March 2, the “Lady” instructed Bernadette to approach the priests and request that a chapel be constructed at the grotto.
Bernadette’s final encounter with the “Lady” occurred on July 16, the Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Bernadette experienced a total of 18 visions over the course of five months.
Became a Nun
Bernadette faced a number of significant challenges in her quest to be accepted into a religious order and trained as a nun. She faced a number of challenges as Andre Ravier, SJ, documented in his book Bernadette, including celebrity, bad health, a lack of education, and poverty, among others. Bernadette, on the other hand, was permitted to join the Sisters of Nevers following a visit with the Bishop of Nevers in Paris. Bernadette was one of 43 postulants who obtained the religious habit in July 1866, and she became a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers the same month.
- She was unwell shortly after, and only gradually recovered from her illness.
- Bernadette was a resident of the convent of Saint-Gildard from July 1866 to April 1879, during which time she suffered from episodes of ill health on a regular basis.
- According to theCatholic Onlinewebsite, “when at the monastery, she begged the nuns to cut open her chest so that she might breathe.” Bernadette was sequestered in the convent, but she was not completely safe there.
- She was known as “the Bernadette.” She, on the other hand, would pretended to be someone else, offer to locate Sister Marie-Bernarde for the individual, and then disappear.
- She worked as a caretaker for the sick, and she cherished her quiet prayer time.
Bernadette and the novice-mistress of the convent did not get along, and she was frequently subjected to “sharp words, scathing sarcasm, stinging outbursts, and agonizing humiliations.” Moreover, Ravier speculated that she may have been selected out because the priests did not want her to be marked out for any particular treatment as a result of the visions.
Despite her protests, she insisted that the healings were “for others, not for her,” and that her primary concern was to bear her disease.
She died on April 16, 1879, in the French town of Nevers.
Canonized a Saint
According to the official website of the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, Bernadette’s remains was unearthed three times following her death, in 1909, 1919, and 1925. Bernadette’s remains has been kept in a Shrine in the Chapel of the Convent of St. Gildard, in Nevers, France, since August of 1925. The doctors believe Bernadette’s body to be “mummified,” which means that she has been preserved completely. In 1925, she was beatified (designated “Blessed” by Pope Pius XII). On December 8, 1933, Pope Pius XI declared Bernadette a saint, and she was canonized the following year.
She was the subject of the 1943 Academy Award-winning ballad “Song of Bernadette,” which was written ten years after her canonization.
Lourdes Today
Lourdes is one of the most popular tourist places in the world for Catholics, as well as for people seeking cures for their diseases and other ailments. It was attracting four million tourists per year at its peak in the mid-1990s. Visitors may view a plaque that indicates the exact area where Bernadette stood, according to the official website of the Lourdes pilgrimage site in France. “Here Bernadette prayed on the 11th of February, 1858,” the inscription says.
Books
Our Lady Comes to Lourdes, by Brother Ernest, C.S.C., published by Dujarie Press in 1954. Keyes, Frances Parkinson, and others Julian Messner, Inc. published Bernadette of Lourdes-Shepherdess, Sister, and Saint in 1953. Ravier, Andre, and Bernadette published by Collins in 1978. Saint-Pierre, Saint-Michel de, Saint-Bernadette, and Saint-Lourdes Farrar, Straus and Young, Inc. published the book in 1954. Annette Sandoval is the author of this work. The Directory of Saints-A Concise Guide to Patron Saints, published by Signet in 1996, is an excellent resource.
Sheed and Ward published their book in 1958.
Online
‘Our Lady Comes to Lourdes’ by Ernest, Brother, C.S.C., published by Dujarie Press in 1954, is a book on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes. The Keyes family, Frances Parkinson and their descendants It was published in 1953 by Julian Messner, Inc. as Bernadette of Lourdes-Shepherdess, Sister and Saint RAVIS, ANDRE, and BERNADETTE COLLINS (Collins Publishing Company), 1978. Michel de, Bernadette, and Lourdes are among the saints who have been venerated. F. Straus and Young Inc. published this book in 1954.
In 1996, the publisher Signet published The Directory of Saints-A Concise Guide to Patron Saints.
He and Ward published a book in 1958 called “Sheed and Ward.”