Image: Saint Bernadette Soubirous en 1861 ou 1862 | photo by abbé P. BernadouImage: Saint Bernadette Soubirous en 1861 ou 1862 | photo by abbé P. BernadouPosted on 04/16/2017 1:52:49 PM PDT by Salvation
Image: Saint Bernadette Soubirous en 1861 ou 1862 | photo by abbé P. Bernadou
Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844, the first child of an extremely poor miller in the town of Lourdes in southern France. The family was living in the basement of a dilapidated building when on February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in a cave above the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. Bernadette, 14 years old, was known as a virtuous girl though a dull student who had not even made her first Holy Communion. In poor health, she had suffered from asthma from an early age.
There were 18 appearances in all, the final one occurring on the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, July 16. Although Bernadette’s initial reports provoked skepticism, her daily visions of “the Lady” brought great crowds of the curious. The Lady, Bernadette explained, had instructed her to have a chapel built on the spot of the visions. There, the people were to come to wash in and drink of the water of the spring that had welled up from the very spot where Bernadette had been instructed to dig.
According to Bernadette, the Lady of her visions was a girl of 16 or 17 who wore a white robe with a blue sash. Yellow roses covered her feet, a large rosary was on her right arm. In the vision on March 25 she told Bernadette, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” It was only when the words were explained to her that Bernadette came to realize who the Lady was.
Few visions have ever undergone the scrutiny that these appearances of the Immaculate Virgin were subject to. Lourdes became one of the most popular Marian shrines in the world, attracting millions of visitors. Miracles were reported at the shrine and in the waters of the spring. After thorough investigation, Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions in 1862.
During her life, Bernadette suffered much. She was hounded by the public as well as by civic officials until at last she was protected in a convent of nuns. Five years later, she petitioned to enter the Sisters of Notre Dame. After a period of illness she was able to make the journey from Lourdes and enter the novitiate. But within four months of her arrival she was given the last rites of the Church and allowed to profess her vows. She recovered enough to become infirmarian and then sacristan, but chronic health problems persisted. She died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35.
Bernadette Soubirous was canonized in 1933.
Millions of people have come to the spring Bernadette uncovered for healing of body and spirit, but she found no relief from ill health there. Bernadette moved through life, guided only by blind faith in things she did not understand—as we all must do from time to time.
Saint of the Day Ping!
Saint of the Day Ping!
Oh, if you ever get the chance, read Franz Werfel’s book about her “The Song of Bernadette”! It is so good, it gives me chills every time. I’ve actually taught it to my students a few times, and we watch the movie from 1943 in black and white. The book is better, of course, but it’s a fascinating story.
Thanks for the tip. I just ordered it! I love the movie so much I'm sure I'll love the book. Thanks again.
You know, the movie was pretty good, but they insisted on a beautiful starlet to play Bernadette. Bernadette was a cute little thing, but she was all of 4’10”, and the nuns carrying her around in their arms is much more understandable when you know that. It also speaks to how poor and malnourished she was as a child.
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Thanks for the info and additional insight. I looked it up and Jennifer Jones is said to have been 5'7". That's quite a bit taller than Bernadette for sure. I watched the movie again last night and can't wait for the book to arrive. :)
On another note, Vincent Price was not half-bad looking when he was young! LOL... although my favorite character is that doctor.
BTTT for Saind Bernadette Soubirous!
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