The History of St. Bernadette
Bernadette Soubirous is a Catholic saint who had a number of visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858 in France. An illiterate and sickly girl, she died at a young age but was declared a saint by the Catholic Church by Pope Pius IX in 1933 after meticulous investigation of her visions and life. Where she had her visions a shrine was erected that became a focal pilgrimage point for Catholics from across the world.
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Early years
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Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France on January 7th, 1844. She was afflicted with disease at an early age and remained in poor health for the remainder of her life, suffering from asthma.
Visions
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On February 11th of 1858 at the age of 14, Bernadette had a vision near a small cave outside of Lourdes while doing chores. She claimed she saw a beautiful woman who talked to her, telling her to keep coming back to the same place to see her.
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Instructions
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During her total of 18 visions of this lady, Bernadette was told such things as to have a chapel constructed by the cave and to drink from a spring beneath the ground that could not be seen. Soon after a spring of water sprang forth from the spot where Bernadette was told to dig, which reportedly had miraculous healing properties.
Immaculate Conception
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The lady eventually revealed to Bernadette that she was "the Immaculate Conception", which in the language of the Church meant she was conceived without sin. Once the visions ended Bernadette, learned to read and write and became a nun. She died on April 16th, 1879, of tuberculosis.
Incorruptible
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Bernadette's body was exhumed 30 years after her death and was found to be almost perfectly preserved. The church exhumed the body twice more and finally placed her body in a special casket that is on display in France still.
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