BERNADETTE'S FINAL APPARITION

More than three months after the 17th. Apparition on 7 April 1858, in the evening of 16 July 1858, Bernadette suddenly felt that she was drawn once more to the Massabielle Grotto. And that was truly her final apparition. It was also the feast day of the Madonna of Mount Carmel. By that time, the Massabielle Grotto had already closed down and access to it was forbidden. However, nothing could stop Bernadette from responding to the call of Our Lady. She went to see her Aunt Lucille who came up with a good solution to her problem. Since the Grotto was closed to the public, the two of them had to take another route, across the meadow known as 'de la Ribere' which led to the other side of the River Gave opposite the Grotto. Since that was private property and did not fall within the prohibited area's perimeter, Bernadette, her aunt and their two companions had no problem getting there. There, 250 meters from the Grotto, Bernadette saw Our Lady for the last time. It was almost sunset. Although she stood a distance from the barricaded Grotto on the other side of the River Gave, she was able to see Our Lady very clearly. According to Bernadette, "I didn't see the barrier or the river. I seemed to be right in front of the Grotto just like the other times. I only saw the Virgin and she was more beautiful than ever." The two women who witnessed Bernadette's final apparition gathered around her and asked, "What did the Lady tell you?" Bernadette's reply was, "Nothing. She appeared to me just like the other times but she remained silent."

Bernadette did not mention this event when she was called to give evidence on 7 November 1858 before the sub-committee of Inquiry and again on 7 December 1860 before the Bishop. What was the reason for her silence? She probably felt that this apparition was strictly personal and an exclusively private one. Was the story of Lourdes to end on 16 July 1858?  The answer is "No." A new Lourdes was born which has been destined to become a message of hope and a lighted beacon for all those who are ardently trying to find themselves and seeking God in their lives. It has since become a place of prayer and contemplation that continues until today.

On 28 July 1858, Bishop Monseigneur Laurence, the Bishop of Tarbes, set up a Canonical Investigation Board to verify the nature and authenticity of the apparitions. The investigations began on 2 August 1858 and lasted for four years during which Bernadette and all the witnesses witnesses were interrogated and examined by the Board. 35 cases of inexplicable healing were confirmed by a team of doctors under the supervision of Professor Vergez of the medical faculty of Montpellier. Countless reports were made. Finally, in his pastoral letter dated 18 January 1862, Monseigneur Laurence declared that her apparitions were worthy of the assent and recognized the apparitions in Lourdes as being genuine and of a supernatural nature.

After her apparitions ended, Bernadette, having suffered from asthma for years, was removed from Lourdes to convalesce at the waters of Cauterets. From there, she moved to the hospice school operated by the Sisters of Charity at Nevers on 15 July 1860. She continued with her studies at the hospice school whilst at the same time helping the Sisters in their work. Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity as a nun in 1866, and remained in residence at the order's motherhouse until her death in 1879. She was beatified by the church in 1925, and canonized in 1933. (Please click here to view the contents page of this blog)


References:

1.  Bernardo, Antonio. Lourdes. Lourdes: Doucet Publications.
2.  Bernardo, Antonio. (2007). Lourdes & Bernadette. Italy: Ilcalamo