Bernadette of Lourdes, Saint

Bernadette of Lourdes, Saint
orig. Marie-Bernarde Soubirous

born Jan. 7, 1844, Lourdes, France
died April 16, 1879, Nevers; canonized Dec. 8, 1933; feast day April 16, but sometimes February 18 in France

French visionary.

The daughter of a miller, she had a poverty-stricken childhood and was often ill. In 1858 she had a series of visions of Mary; she defended their authenticity against the doubts of her parents, the clergy, and civil authorities. She joined the Sisters of Charity at Nevers (1866) and remained in seclusion until her death at 35. The grotto at Lourdes became a pilgrimage site; its waters are reputed to have healing powers.

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▪ French saint
original name  Marie-bernarde Soubirous  
born Jan. 7, 1844, Lourdes, Fr.
died April 16, 1879, Nevers; canonized Dec. 8, 1933; feast day April 16, but sometimes February 18 in France
 miller's daughter whose visions led to the founding of the shrine of Lourdes.

      Frail in health, Bernadette was the eldest of nine children from a poverty-stricken family. She contracted cholera in the epidemic of 1854 and suffered from asthma and other ailments throughout her life. Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, at the age of 14, she had a series of visions of the Virgin Mary, who revealed her identity with the words “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Bernadette steadfastly defended the genuineness of these visions despite strong opposition from her parents, the local clergy, and civil authorities, and she faithfully transmitted Mary's messages. To escape public attention she became a boarder in the local school run by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. In 1866 she was granted admission into the novitiate in the mother house at Nevers. There she completed her religious instruction and passed her remaining years in prayer and seclusion, happy and loved for her kindliness, holiness, and wit, despite almost constant sickness and pain. She died in agony, willingly accepting her great sufferings in faithful fulfillment of her “Lady's” request for penance. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI. Celebration of her feast is optional in the Roman calendar. The chapel of the St. Gildard convent, Nevers, contains her body.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bernadette of Lourdes,Saint — Ber·na·dette of Lourdes (bûr nə dĕtʹ; lo͝ord, lo͝ordz), Saint Originally Marie Bernarde Soubirous. 1844 1879. French peasant girl whose visions of the Virgin Mary led to the establishment of the shrine at Lourdes, France. * * * …   Universalium

  • Bernadette of Lourdes — biographical name Saint 1844 1879 Marie Bernarde Soubirous French religious …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Lourdes — /loord, loordz/; Fr. /loohrddd/, n. a city in SW France: Roman Catholic shrine famed for miraculous cures. 18,096. * * * Pilgrimage site in southwestern France, situated southwest of Toulouse at the foot of the Pyrenees. The town and its fortress …   Universalium

  • Saint — 1347 80, Italian ascetic and mystic. died A.D. 731, pope 715 731. died A.D. 741, pope 731 741. died A.D. 352, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 337 352. died A.D. 683, Sicilian ecclesiastic: pope 682 683. died A.D. 855, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 847… …   Universalium

  • saint — saintless, adj. /saynt/, n. 1. any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, esp. by canonization. 2. a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence. 3. a founder, sponsor, or… …   Universalium

  • Bernadette Soubirous — Saint Bernadette Soubirous Saint Bernadette of Lourdes Born 7 January 1844[1] Lourdes, France Died 16 April 1879( …   Wikipedia

  • Bernadette Soubirous — Santa Nombre Maria Bernada (Bernadeta) Sobirós (original en occitano) Marie Bernard (Bernadette) Soubirous (en francés) María Bernard …   Wikipedia Español

  • Bernadette Soubirous — Wohnhaus der Familie Soubirous Die heilige Bernadette Soubirous, oder Maria Bern …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bernadette Soubirous — Sainte Bernadette Soubirous Naissance le 7 janvier 1844 à Lourdes, Hautes Pyrénées, France Décès le 16 avril 1879  (35 ans) à …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bernadette — (1844–79)    Saint and Mystic.    Bernadette Subirous was the daughter of a miller and grew up in the French village of Lourdes. Between 11 February and 16 July 1858, she claimed to have had eighteen visions of the Virgin mary, who went by the… …   Who’s Who in Christianity

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