The Apparition of Mary to Bernadette

Bernadette Soubirous was born on January 7, 1844 to parents Francois and Louise. The family lived comfortably until Francois was accused of stealing two sacks of flour and jailed. This along with a draught in the region and persistent economic hardships, left the family destitute. During this period Bernadette contracted cholera making her physically weakened. On February 11, 1958, Bernadette and her sisters went to collect firewood near the river Gave that runs through Lourdes. While there Bernadette had the first of 18 apparitions where the Blessed Mother appeared to her. Bernadette described her as a beautiful lady, dressed in white and blue, who asked that the world pray for conversions and that a church be built on the site of where she appeared to Bernadette. Mary also told Bernadette to dig in the ground and stream would appear and asked he to drink from it telling Bernadette that she did not promise to make her happy in this world but would in the next. Bernadette when telling her parents, priest and local bishop of these events was not believed and was ridiculed, until, Bernadette, a barley literate peasant girl told the bishop that the Lady had said her name was the Immaculate Conception, a term Bernadette would never have known. The church was built at the site of the apparitions and the place, now called the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, contains numerous churches and chapels. The water from the stream Bernadette uncovered has been the source physical, emotional and spiritual healings ever since. Bernadette lived her life in physical pain, often saying her ministry was to be sick. She died in 1879 and was canonized a saint on December 8, 1933. Millions of pilgrims journey to Lourdes every year.