STORY: Saint Bernadette was born to a poor family in Lourdes, France. She was the oldest of 9 children and suffered her whole life with extreme asthma. When she was 14, Our Lady appeared to her numerous times, calling herself “the Immaculate Conception” and asking Bernadette to pray. A miraculous spring appeared at the Grotto where Mary was seen, and now people go on pilgrimage there and are healed. Despite persecution, Bernadette, remained firm in her conviction that Mary appeared. She later joined the Sisters Of Charity.

PATRON OF: illness, people ridiculed for their piety, poverty, shepherds, shepherdesses, and Lourdes, France

FEAST DAY: April 16

BDAY: January 7, 1844 – April 16, 1879

SOURCE: St. Bernadette at Catholic.org

READ MORE: Lourdes at Catholic Encyclopedia

Image attribution: Weltwoche 8/08, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons