The Lourdes Visions of Saint Bernadette

Saint Bernadette

Lourdes is a famed place of pilgrimage for Catholics from all over the world. On April 16 we celebrate the feast day of the saint who first had visions there. Saint Bernadette was born on January 7, 1844 in Lourdes. Her full name was Marie Bernarde Soubirous, but her parents called her Bernadette. She was poor and uneducated. Asthma plagued her health. One day when she was 14 years old, Bernadette was at the Gave River not too far from Lourdes collecting firewood. It was here that she saw the Virgin Mary in a riverbank cave. Many people did not believe this story, but as Bernadette’s visions continued, the faithful started visiting her hometown. On February 25, 1858, also in Lourdes, Bernadette caused a spring to flow where there had only been dry land, thus even further disproving her doubters. Ten days after this event, a vision of the Immaculate Conception told Bernadette to build a chapel on the sight of the spring.

Lourdes today  

As word of miracles in Lourdes spread, the city began to draw pilgrims from around the world. In 1933, Pope Pius XI canonized Bernadette after an investigation of her visions. Bernadette herself spent the rest of her life as a Sister of Notre Dame and a member of the Confraternity of the Cord of St. Francis. She died on April 16, 1879.

Contacta Información

Boletín Franciscano
Conventual

Noticias de la
OFM Conv

Centro de Publicación
Comunicados de Prensa
Request an Interview

Biblioteca Franciscana
Conventual

Futuros Eventos

Registrate para Recibir
Información via E-mail

Enlaces en la Web
de la Comunidad Franciscana

Enlaces en la Web
de la Comunidad Catolica

Apoya a un Sacerdote
o a un Hermano en Formación

Misiones Mundiales

El Ambiente:
La Fe en Accion

Esquina Vocacional

E-store – St. Francis Market

Affiliate Program