Christian Men and Women

Saint Bernadette

Bernadette lived in Lourdes in France and her parents were very poor. One day when Bernadette was collecting fire wood she saw a beautiful lady who asked that they pray together and say the rosary. Bernadette continued to say the rosary with the lady many times and soon all the villagers came to hear of this and followed Bernadette to the grotto where she and the beautiful lady continued to say the rosary. The other people could not see the beautiful lady. One day the beautiful lady asked Bernadette to scarp away the earth by her feet and a spring appeared. Since then many people have travelled to Lourdes to be cured of various illnesses. The beautiful lady told Bernadette that she was Mary the mother of Jesus and asked her to build a chapel near the grotto. The woman who was Our Lady asked Bernadette to tell people to say sorry for their sins and to pray the Rosary.

Years later Bernadette became a nun and she remained in a convent about 300 miles from her home. At thirty five, her strong-willed manner gave way to her frail body, and she finally died and entered into her eternal happiness.

Some of the virtues that Bernadette displayed throughout her life were Prudence, Justice, Restraint (Temperance) and Faith, Hope and Love (Charity).