Bernadette Soubirous, Saint

BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS, Saint. - In the world Bernadette, b. at Lourdes on 7 Jan. 1844, d. at Nevers on 16 Apr. 1879.

She grew up in the shadow of a mill, in silence and modesty, with no other education than that of the Rosary, distinguished from her contemporaries only by a vivid sentiment of piety. At noon on 11 Feb. 1858 she had the first vision of the Immaculate Virgin; the visions lasted until 16 July and were 18 in number. The Virgin's message was that a church should be erected in that place, where she had set her feet and made roses bloom in the depths of winter. There souls and bodies would find refreshment and health. Thus, once the contradictions and mistrust aroused by the visions had been overcome, the sanctuary arose, by now famous for its ceaseless pilgrimages, conversions and miracles. Having completed her mission, Bernadette on 29 July 1866 withdrew to become a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity and of Christian Instruction at Nevers, living there humble and hidden in the most ordinary offices, always most faithful to her duty and always tormented by illnesses. She was beatified on 12 June 1925; canonized on 8 Dec. 1933. Feast on 18 Febr.

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