Saint Bernadette Soubirous was born on January 7, 1844 to François Soubirous, a miller, and Louise Casteròt, a laundress. She was the first of nine children and she was born and raised in Lourdes, France. Bernadette lived a humble life, given that her family was struggling in poverty. Being that she was raised catholic, she was baptized on January 9 at St. Pierre’s Church, her local parish. Bernadette was diagnosed with cholera and suffered for the rest of her life in poor health.
At 14 years old, Bernadette was sent out on Thursday, February 11, 1859 to gather firewood with her sister. There, a stunning woman appeared to here in a grotto called Massabielle, right above a blooming rose bush. The woman looked at Bernadette and made the sign of the cross with a gold rosary. Even though her sister could not see her, Bernadette knew the lady was real. Bernadette’s parents were embarrassed and tried to stop her, but they couldn’t.
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She then joined the Sisters of Charity at their motherhouse in Nevers, and unfortunately developed Tuberculosis and died on April 16, 1879 at Sainte Croix Infirmary at the age of 35. Bernadette was praying with her rosary the hour she passed and her last words were "Blessed Mary, Mother of God, pray for me. A poor sinner, a poor sinner." Multiple members of her order and other priest exhumed her body a number of times and to this day it stays uncorrupt. One of the priests who exhumed her claimed that there was not rotting flesh smell but only the scent of a rose when they opened her casket. Her body now rests at a cathedral in Lourdes, France.
Saint Bernadette is often depicted holding a rosary and praying to Mary. In 1925 she was beatified and in December of 1933, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI. Saint Bernadette is the patron saint of Lourdes, France, shepherd and shepherdesses, people in poverty, illness, and people ridiculed for their