Who was Bernadette Soubirous? Born on 7 January 1844 in the Boly Mill, she was the daughter of Francois Soubirous, a miller, and Louise Casterot, a laundress. In 1856, there was a famine in Lourdes and the Soubirous family had to live in extreme poverty when Francois Soubirous was left without a stable job. Penniless and homeless, they had to take refuge in a damp, unhealthy, and tiny old prison cell known as The Cachot. Although this tiny chamber was unfit for human habitation, the Soubirous family lived there from the winter of 1857 to the autumn of 1858 because they were allowed to stay there free of charge. Bernadette did not attend school very often because she had to assist her family. In September 1857, she was sent to Bartres to help Marie Lague, her former nurse, who was looking for someone to babysit her 2-year-old son and tend the flock. Life in Bartres was very harsh for Bernadette as she had to do almost everything and was not given proper meals most of the time. On 21 January 1858, Bernadette was only too glad to return to the insanitary dungeon to be reunited with her family and to prepare for her first Holy Communion. After returning to the Cachot, she attended the hospice school run by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers and was put in a pauper's class.
From 11 February to 16 July 1858, the Virgin Mary appeared to fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous on 18 occassions at the Grotto of Massabielle. Following these apparitions were numerous miraculous healings associated with the Grotto. To this day, miracles are still happening there and that is why Lourdes has become one of the popular pilgrimage sites of the world. Although Lourdes is only a small town, it has the second largest number of hotels in France because more than 6 million pilgrims visit this place of miracles every year.
The spring which appeared when Bernadette dug in the ground following Our Lady's instructions now produces 5000 litres of water per hour. Every year, millions of pilgrims, especially the sick and handicapped, flock to Lourdes to drink water from the miraculous spring in the Grotto and wash in it. Many claimed to have been healed after drinking water from the spring or bathing in it. The spring water is simply pure water and there is nothing magical in it but since it was first discovered by Bernadette, the Mother of God has used this water as an instrument of healing as a sign of God's presence in this place of holiness. Although not every sick or handicapped pilgrim who visit Lourdes would experience a miraculous healing, those who have been there would understand the value of suffering and live life with dignity and fortitude.
As the Mother of God's chosen one, Bernadette could have made herself a millionaire with the apparitions. There were people who offered to make her rich if only she would go to Paris with them and give talks about the apparitions. She could also ask for donations to start her own hotel and restaurant business in Lourdes and make big bucks out of the pilgrims. Money should not be a problem for her because of her position as the renowned visionary of Lourdes. Needless to say, if she were to ask for donations in the name of Jesus and Mary, the pilgrims would gladly give her anything she asked for after having witnessed so many miracles associated with the apparitions. With lots of donations pouring in, she could build a megachurch and purchase a lake house in no time. She could even ask for more and more donations until she became one of the richest women in France. However, instead of taking advantage of Jesus and Mary and busy making money out of the apparitions, Bernadette Soubirous left Lourdes forever in July 1866 "to hide" and become a nun. She joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers and devoted her entire life to God and humanity in the belief that the world would soon forget her. Why did she go to Nevers to hide when she could easily make huge money from the pilgrim boom and live a comfortable life in Lourdes? Only a real saint could make such a selfless choice.
Bernadette remained in Nevers until she died at the age of 35 on 16 April 1879 after a prolonged, deteriorating, painful, and fatal illness. In September 1878, her pulmonary tuberculosis had developed into tuberculosis of the knee with cavities on the bone and that was the time she had to endure the worst sufferings in her life. Worn out and weary through her sufferings, her asthma and bone decay have finally wasted her away. On 14 April 1878, she told Sister Leontine that she was crushed like a grain of wheat. Although many miraculous healings were reported following the apparitions, it seemed that the miracles of Lourdes were not intended for her. As what the Mother of God said to her, "I cannot promise you happiness in this life but in the next." This was how Bernadette, who remained brave and cheerful till the end, summarised her entire life, "I am happier in my bed of pain than any queen on her throne. To obey is to love. Suffering in silence for Christ is joy. To love sincerely is to offer up everything, above all suffering!"
Bernadette's body was placed in a double oak coffin of lead and oak and sealed in the presence of witnesses on 19 April 1879. She was buried in a damp grave for 30 years. When her body was exhumed for the first time on 22 September 1909, her body was found to be well-preserved and incorrupt even though the rosary which she held in her hands had turned rusty. When she was exhumed again for the second time on 3 April 1919, pathologists Doctor Comte and Doctor Talon came to similar conclusions as their predecessors. On 18 April 1925, her body was exhumed for the third time and according to the autopsy report, her internal organs were in perfect condition. Even her liver was amazingly well-preserved! It should be noted that the liver is an organ which is most subjected to decay. Today, Bernadette's miraculously preserved body lies in a bronze and crystal casket in the Chapel of Saint Gildard's Convent in Nevers where millions of pilgrims come to venerate her every year. Beatified on 14 June 1925, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 8 December 1933. Her feast day is celebrated on 16 April.
Bernadette's body was placed in a double oak coffin of lead and oak and sealed in the presence of witnesses on 19 April 1879. She was buried in a damp grave for 30 years. When her body was exhumed for the first time on 22 September 1909, her body was found to be well-preserved and incorrupt even though the rosary which she held in her hands had turned rusty. When she was exhumed again for the second time on 3 April 1919, pathologists Doctor Comte and Doctor Talon came to similar conclusions as their predecessors. On 18 April 1925, her body was exhumed for the third time and according to the autopsy report, her internal organs were in perfect condition. Even her liver was amazingly well-preserved! It should be noted that the liver is an organ which is most subjected to decay. Today, Bernadette's miraculously preserved body lies in a bronze and crystal casket in the Chapel of Saint Gildard's Convent in Nevers where millions of pilgrims come to venerate her every year. Beatified on 14 June 1925, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 8 December 1933. Her feast day is celebrated on 16 April.
Lourdes is not just about apparitions and miraculous cures. Those who go there on with great expectations for miracles and healings are most likely to feel disheartened. In reality, Lourdes is a humble place for prayers and penance. To this effect, Bernadette had truly answered Our Lady's call by living a life of humble prayers, penance, and sufferings. What really makes me adore her so much is the fact that she had rather walk in the footsteps of Jesus than to pursue wealth and make huge profits out of the apparitions. Abusing the name of Jesus and the Gospels to make boatloads of money is something I find unacceptable and, of course, scary. In a world full of greed, she is a rarity. The message from Our Lady to Bernadette was clear and simple- poverty, prayer, and penance were the keys to the Kingdom of God.
You may also like to read The Message of Lourdes, Beware of Greedy, Selfish and Money-Hungry Pastors and IF YOU WANT TO GET RICH QUICK, START A CHURCH. To view the content page of this blog, please click here.
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