St Bernadette
St Bernadette’s Story
St Bernadette was born in 1844 in a small town in France. Bernadette Soubirous was one of eight children born into a very poor family. Although initially unremarkable, Bernadette’s life was to inspire generations of people to journey in faith on pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Between 11 February and 16 July 1858, Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary eighteen times in a series of Apparitions that took place in cave on the outskirts of Lourdes, a place now known as the Grotto of Massabielle. In the course of these miraculous encounters, Bernadette, then aged just 14, became the friend and confidante of Our Lady, the mother of Jesus.
The Apparitions of Lourdes were authenticated in 1866 by the Bishop of Tarbes. In that same year, Bernadette left Lourdes to live out her religious vocation within the community of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. She died in 1879, was proclaimed blessed in 1925, and a became a saint in 1933.
The Apparitions
The apparitions seen by St Bernadette took place over five months largely in silence. Despite this, over the course of time, an intimate relationship of trust, obedience, and love developed between Our Lady and Bernadette.
The first seven apparitions mark a period of joyful discovery
Bernadette was always deeply happy; this was reflected during the first seven apparitions with her face radiating joy and light.
Apparitions eight to twelve were penitential.
At this point everything changed, Bernadette became sad, and sorrowful. Witnesses at the Grotto, who were growing in number every day, were deeply moved and experienced a range of emotions; some were converted to the Faith, others didn’t understand Bernadette’s behaviour and felt confusion or distain.
The last six apparitions looked outwards, beginning with the missionary thirteenth apparition.
During this Apparition, Mary spoke to Bernadette saying: “Tell the priests that people should come here in procession and build a chapel here.” Chapels were later built to accommodate great numbers of pilgrims.
Today, the Catholic Church recognises 70 miracles as a result of the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, with people across the world journeying in prayer with Our Lady and St Bernadette, on pilgrimage to the Sanctuary.
An introduction to St Bernadette
Our Lady, the Virgin Mary, chose Bernadette to be a channel for the message of Lourdes. This short film tells her story.
On 25 March 1858, the day of the sixteenth apparition, Bernadette asked the ‘Lady’ her name. The Lady replied in the local dialect: “Que soy era Immaculada Counceptiou”, “I am the Immaculate Conception”.