MARIA BERNARDA SOUBIROUS, saint. - In secular life Bernadette, born at Lourdes on 7 Jan. 1844, died at Nevers on 16 Apr. 1879.
She grew up in the shadow of a mill, in silence and modesty, with no education other than that of the Rosary, distinguishing herself from her contemporaries only by a lively sense of piety. At noon on 11 Feb. 1858 she had her first vision of the Immaculate Virgin; the visions continued until 16 July and numbered 18. The Virgin’s message was that a church should be erected in that place, where she had set her feet and caused roses to bloom in the depth of winter. There souls and bodies would find refreshment and health. Thus, once the objections and distrust occasioned by the visions had been overcome, the sanctuary arose, now famous for its unceasing pilgrimages, conversions, and miracles. Having fulfilled her mission, on 29 July 1866 Bernadette withdrew to join the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction at Nevers, where she lived humbly and obscurely in the most ordinary duties, ever most faithful to her duty and ever tormented by illness. She was beatified on 12 June 1925; canonized on 8 Dec. 1933. Feast: 18 Feb.