26 Facts About Bernadette Soubirous

In 1866, Bernadette Soubirous joined the Sisters of Charity of Nevers at their convent in Nevers where she spent the last years of her life.

Marie Bernarde Bernadette Soubirous was the daughter of Francois Bernadette Soubirous, a miller, and Louise, a laundress.

Bernadette Soubirous was born on 7 January 1844 and baptized at the local parish church, St Pierre's, on 9 January, her parents' wedding anniversary.

Bernadette Soubirous's godmother was Bernarde Casterot, her mother's sister, a moderately wealthy widow who owned a tavern.

Bernadette Soubirous contracted cholera as a toddler and suffered severe asthma for the rest of her life.

Bernadette Soubirous attended the day school conducted by the Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction from Nevers.

Contrary to a belief popularized by Hollywood films, Bernadette Soubirous learned very little French, only studying French in school after age 13.

Bernadette Soubirous spoke the language of Occitan, which was spoken by the local population of the Pyrenees region at that time and to a residual degree today.

Bernadette Soubirous finally sat down to take her shoes off in order to cross the water and was lowering her stocking when she heard the sound of rushing wind, but nothing moved.

Bernadette Soubirous knelt down immediately, saying she saw the apparition again.

Bernadette Soubirous's story caused a sensation among the townspeople, who were divided in their opinions on whether or not she was telling the truth.

The other contents of Bernadette Soubirous's reported visions were simple and focused on the need for prayer and penance.

Bernadette Soubirous repeated the question three more times and finally heard the lady say, in Gascon Occitan, "I am the Immaculate Conception".

Bernadette Soubirous said that it was faith and prayer that cured the sick: "One must have faith and pray; the water will have no virtue without faith".

Bernadette Soubirous spent the rest of her brief life at the motherhouse, working as an assistant in the infirmary and later as a sacristan, creating ornate embroidery for altar cloths and vestments.

Bernadette Soubirous's contemporaries admired her humility and spirit of sacrifice.

Bernadette Soubirous had followed the development of Lourdes as a pilgrimage shrine while she still lived at Lourdes but was not present for the consecration of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception there in 1876.

Bernadette Soubirous eventually died of her long-term illness at the age of 35 on 16 April 1879, while praying the Holy Rosary.

Bernadette Soubirous' body was laid to rest in the Saint Gildard Convent.

Bernadette Soubirous was declared blessed on 14 June 1921 by Pope Pius XI.

Bernadette Soubirous was canonized by Pius XI on 8 December 1933, the day of the Immaculate Conception.

The town of Lourdes where Bernadette Soubirous grew up and had her visions has become a major international pilgrimage site attracting millions of visitors each year.

The most recent church in the sanctuary is the St Bernadette Soubirous Church, completed in 1988.

The sanctuary has a museum called the St Bernadette Soubirous Museum, dedicated to the history of the apparitions.

Bernadette Soubirous's body is exposed for the veneration of visitors.

The city of Nevers has a museum dedicated to the life of Bernadette Soubirous, called the "Bernadette Soubirous Museum".