By Leon Bent –
Saint Bernadette Soubirous, also known as Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, is best known for the Marian apparitions of a “young lady,” between 11 February and 16 July 1858. Soubirous was a sickly child and possibly due to this she was only 4ft.7in. tall. She contracted cholera as a toddler and suffered severe asthma for the rest of her life. Soubirous learned very little French, only studying French in school after age 13 due to being frequently ill and a poor learner. She could read and write very little due to her frequent illness.
At the age of 13, one of Bernadette’s chores was to collect wood for the kitchen-fire. As Bernadette was taking off her shoes to make her way through the river, she was startled by a peculiar wind and rustling sound.
Bernadette looked up towards the grotto and the caves on the riverbank. Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light. Lifting up her eyes, she saw a very beautiful lady dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet.
Bernadette rubbed her eyes in amazement. What a beautiful lady! She responded in wonder and reverence. But where did she come from? And what was she doing here? The beautiful lady smiled at Bernadette and asked her to say her rosary. Something deep inside her compelled her to stay with the beautiful Lady and pray with her. Bernadette knew that something extraordinary was happening, and she entered into the wonder and goodness of it all completely.
The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the “Lady” asked Bernadette to drink from a small collection of water, and immediately it turned into a full-flowing stream. The lady also told Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners. Bernadette followed the requests.
During the sixteenth apparition that occurred on the Feast of the Annunciation, the beautiful Lady revealed her identity to Bernadette: “I am the Immaculate Conception”. “Those were the last words she ever said to me”, asserted Bernadette.
At the age of 22, Bernadette became a nun and devoted her life to Mary, to praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God.
The Blessed Virgin Mary told Bernadette she would not be happy in this world, but happiness would be waiting for her in heaven. When asked by a group of tourists, if she was aware of the miraculous healings that were occurring at Lourdes, and why she, the woman to whom the healing waters had been shown, did not go there for healing. St. Bernadette simply responded, “You see, my business is to be ill.” She died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 36, devoting her personal suffering to Christ and with these words on her lips: “Blessed Mary, Mother of God, pray for me! Indeed, a poor sinner, a poor sinner!”
The sacred relic (Bernadette’s body) was placed in a coffin of gold and glass, and can be viewed to this very day, in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette, at the motherhouse of her Congregation, in Nevers, France.
On 8th December 1933, Pope Pius XI declared Soubirous a saint of the Catholic Church. Her feast-day is observed in most places on the day of her death, 16th April.
Now, this gold nugget! Her visions and the discovery of the healing waters of Lourdes has certainly been her lasting influence. Of the 3 million individuals who come to Lourdes every year, 500,000 are sick people hoping to be cured miraculously. Of the 3 million individuals who come to Lourdes every year, 500,000 are sick people hoping to be cured miraculously. Recent data from the Lourdes Bureau Médical, 66 cases have officially been acknowledged as miraculous, from 1858 to today, which defy the laws of science.
And, this final flourish! After Rome and the Holy Land, Lourdes, in France, is the most popular place of pilgrimage for Catholic faithful. The water of Lourdes is readily available to all pilgrims, and numerous healings have been medically documented to have occurred there, as well as conversions to the faith because of these miracles.
The last word! St. Bernadette teaches us that suffering gives us an opportunity to go in one of two directions: bitter or better. “I shall spend every moment loving,” was her motto.
Leon Bent is an ex-Seminarian and studied the Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Philosophy, from St. Pius X College, Mumbai. He holds Masters Degree in English Literature and Aesthetics. He has published three Books and have 20 on the anvil. He has two extensively “Researched” Volumes to his name: Hail Full of Grace and Matrimony: The Thousand Faces of Love. He won The Examiner, Silver Pen Award, 2000 for writing on Social Issues, the clincher being a Researched Article on Gypsies in India, published in an issue of the (worldwide circulation) Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, New Delhi. On April, 28, 2018, Leon received the Cardinal Ivan Dias Award for a research paper in Mariology.