St. Bernadette of Lourdes; A Marian Apparition

By Josie R

Who was St. Bernadette?

Saint Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes, France was a teen known for seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary in the grotto near her home. She was born on January 7th, 1844. Growing up, she was a weak and sickly girl, often sent away to work or to stay with a family friend as an alternative to boarding school. Her family was very poor; they lived in an abandoned prison because it was the only thing they could afford. Her father was always busy looking for work, and was even accused of stealing and was arrested. Because of this, Bernadette was sent to work at her aunt’s restaurant for extra money and some food.

Later in her life, she ran into something extraordinary, all because of something ordinary.

How did St. Bernadette encounter Mary in the first place?

It all happened one chilly evening when Bernadette, her sister Toinette, and Toinette’s friend Jeanne, went to collect firewood. The three girls made their way to the grounds, but they had to cross a stream to get there. Toinette and Jeanne crossed, soaking their feet in the frigid water. Bernadette, however, tried using rocks to cross, but there weren’t enough to do so. Right across the stream was the famous Grotto, where she saw the Virgin Mary. Bernadette saw her across the stream, glowing ribbons of dazzling light, roses at her feet, rosary in hand. After the encounter, Bernadette crossed the stream and caught up with her sister and friend. She asked the other girls if they were tricking her about the water being cold, but they insisted that it was freezing, and that they were still cold. Now things were getting suspicious, because Bernadette wasn’t cold. She told them the whole story about seeing a woman, the dazzling lights, the roses, everything! They eventually went home, and Toinette told her mother about what Bernadette saw. Both of them were scolded for making up stories.

Did she go back?

St. Bernadette was definitely not a rule-follower when she was a child. She went back to the Grotto and prayed with the woman. Her parents told her not to, and she even got into trouble with the authorities. (More on that later) Her classmates thought she was nuts, and some even told her to sprinkle holy water on Mary to make sure she was not a demon. Rumors were spread, and her parents eventually had to ban her from going there.

What promise did Bernadette make to Mary?

During the 3rd apparition in Lourdes, Mary spoke to Bernadette, telling her to make a promise to come to the Grotto for 15 days. Bernadette was able to go for the entire 15 days, but trouble was brewing.

What happened with the police?

Bernadette was constantly questioned by the police about what she saw, convinced that she was a fraud. They were so angry, they put a fence around the Grotto, making it illegal to pray there. Bernadette was heartbroken, but that didn’t stop her. She continued to pray. Priests questioned her, she was arrested, and at one point, a woman told her to have the woman write her name on a piece of paper. When she asked Mary, she did not write her name down, but she said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” As soon as Bernadette heard this, she raced to the Priest's house and told him what Mary said. He did not react the way she wanted him to, though. He was mad at her for two reasons: He thought she was making it up and being disrespectful, and it was very early in the morning.

What miracles happened?

During one of her visits, Mary told Bernadette to kiss the ground and pray that sinners came back to God. She then told her to find a spring and drink from it, wash in it, and eat some grass nearby. Bernadette did as she was told, but was caught eating grass. The adults tried to wipe off the dirt on her face, but it wouldn’t come off. They noticed that she looked healthier, and then noticed the spring.

Many people visited and continue to visit the spring to cure their illnesses and broken bones. Reports say that a man with a crippled leg drank the water and immediately was able to walk normally.

What happened next?

Bernadette went into hiding as an adult and became a nun, but that didn’t stop the people from obsessing over her. They would mob the gates of the convent, looking for Bernadette, asking for blessings from their “saint”. Bernadette was irritated by this, and often told them that if they wanted a blessing, they should ask the priest.

In summary

During her dying days, Satan appeared to her in her sleep and tortured her. She prayed a short prayer and he winced in pain and disappeared. A few days later, on April 16th, 1879, she passed away. Her last words were “Pray for me, a poor sinner.”

Works Cited

Ahn, Jin-a. Saint Bernadette of Lourdes: The Girl Who Saw Mary. Pauline Books & Media, 2021.