Saint Bernadette, Pray for Us

On this the Solemnity of All Saints, the Catholic Church remembers and celebrates those who have been accepted into Heaven by Our Most Merciful God and Creator.  The Church recognizes several hundred men and women as saints.  We are blessed to have so very many holy people to look to for inspiration in following Jesus on our earthly journey to Heaven, most especially His Blessed Holy Mother.  

 
With no disrespect to the hundreds of canonized and blesseds, on this All Saints Day I wanted to celebrate one saint in particular who has held a special place in my heart for most of my life. 

 
She was a simple, poor girl who had an extraordinary experience which changed the world.  Bernadette Soubirous was born in Lourdes, France on 7 January 1844 to a miller, Francois Soubirous and his wife Louise.   As a child, Bernadette suffered from a succession of medical ailments including asthma.  Her family’s financial position steadily worsened until the family was forced to live in a small, single room in what had previously been the town jail.  Though poor and simple, Bernadette was blessed with a profound faith.  Then, on 11 February 1858, Bernadette had an extraordinary encounter at the Grotto of Massabielle.  As she described, "I saw a Lady dressed in white.  She wore a white dress, an equally white veil, a blue belt and a yellow rose on each foot.”   The Lady, who eventually revealed herself to be “the Immaculate Conception,” appeared to Bernadette a total of eighteen times.   On one occasion, she directed Bernadette to pray for sinners.  On another occasion she directed that a chapel be constructed on the site of the apparitions and that processions come to the site.  Directing Bernadette to dig in the earth, the Blessed Mother revealed the location of a miraculous spring which since then has healed thousands of sick and injured people.  Though skeptical at first, the local bishop became one of her most ardent supporters --- even as the local town officials attempted to suppress Bernadette and the popular faith that Mary’s appearance inspired.  In July 1866, Bernadette entered the Convent of Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers and was given the name Sister Marie-Bernard.  She made her Religious Profession the following year and Final Vows in 1878.  The remainder of Bernadette’s life was spent at the convent, suffering great pain from physical ailments but living a holy life of poverty, chastity, obedience and prayer.  She died on 16 April 1879 of tuberculosis.  She was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 8 December 1933.  During his 2008 visit to Lourdes, Pope Benedict XVI said, “A quiet encounter with Bernadette and the Virgin Mary can change a person’s life, for they are here, in Massabielle, to lead us to Christ who is our life, our strength and our light.”

 
In August 1997, God blessed me with the opportunity to visit Lourdes and walk in the footsteps of this great yet humble saint.  As part of a pilgrimage group from the Diocese of Camden, I visited Lourdes, saw her childhood homes, prayed in the Grotto where Our Blessed Mother appeared, drank from the miraculous spring that Our Mother revealed to her, walked in the nightly Marian procession, and attended Mass in the complex that has grown up around the Grotto.  It was a truly extraordinary spiritual experience to connect with Our Lord, His Mother and His servant St. Bernadette. 

St. Bernadette, pray for us. 

Blessed Mary Ever Virgin, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.