Bernadette, Saint

Bernadette, Saint (1844-79), b. Lourdes, France.

Bernadette Soubirous was the daughter of a poor miller.

On 11 February, 1858 she said she saw the vision of a lady near a small cave. She said the lady looked like a statue of the Mother of Jesus Christ.

News of this spread and crowds began to follow Bernadette to the place of the vision.

On 25 February they saw her dig in the earth and find a spring.

An old stone-mason with a blind eye bathed it in water from the spring and his sight is said to have been restored. 'It is a miracle', people cried, and soon sick people from all over France were making their way to Lourdes.

Bernadette became a nun and left her home town. In 1933 the Pope made her a saint.

Today sick people from all parts of the world go to bathe in the waters at Lourdes and other pilgrims go to pray there.

See G. B. STERN Bernadette