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| St. Bernadette Soubirous (Public Domain photo) |
History
Born in Lourdes, France, in 1844, Bernadette was often sick as
a child and didn’t get much schooling. She hadn’t even made her First Holy
Communion when she was 14 years old when the Blessed Mother appeared to her in
a cave, and they prayed the Rosary together. Bernadette would meet Our Lady in
the same spot18 times altogether. During one of these visits, the Lord’s mother
asked her to dig and a spring opened up. But the most important thing that
happened was that the Blessed Mother identified herself to Bernadette as the
“Immaculate Conception.” This confirmed what the pope had said some years
earlier. Bernadette unfortunately became quite famous – and not everybody loved
her or believed her. She eventually
joined a convent, where she wasn’t treated very well at first, and she suffered
great pain in her final illness, but she did her chores cheerfully and prayed
sincerely.
Activity
We live in a world where most people don’t think about God or
heaven or anything of the sort. It can be really intimidating to testify
publicly to what we believe in. Bernadette was shy and quiet – she didn’t want
any attention for herself, but she willingly told her story so that people
would know how generous God is and how willingly the Holy Mother will pray for
each of us. Today, pray to Our Lady of Lourdes and ask for what you need to be
a faithful witness for Christ.
Saint Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us!
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