Saint Report

Hello, my name is St. Bernadette. I was born on January 7, 1844 in Lourdes, France. I was born into a poor family and was the oldest of six children.

During my early life, when I was 14, I was collecting firewood in a nearby grotto. I saw a woman standing in front of me. That night I had eighteen visions of her. I went back the next day to see her and I saw that she was holding a rosary. I immediately started to pray with her. She told me to come back everyday.

I followed Jesus by praying the rosary with Mary everyday. When I got older I removed myself from the public eye, and lived the rest of my life at a hospice school.

There are several miracles attributed to me. One of them was when the women told me to drink the water before her. Then, the next day the water turned into a stream. The stream healed sixty-nine people.

Another miracle that I am responsible for was when I told everyone about the women I saw. People came to see her, but only I could see her. I asked a priest one day and he told me that I was talking to Virgin Mary Mother of God.

I died at the age of 35 on April 6, 1879 of tuberculosis. I died praying and my last words were “blessed Mary Mother of God pray for me a poor sinner, a poor sinner.”

I became a Saint on December 8, 1933, and I was canonized by Pope Pius the eleventh.

My Feast Day is on April the 16th.

I am the patron saint of Lourdes, France, illnesses, people ridiculed for their piety, poverty, shepherds, and shepherdesses.

Bibliography

Lovasik, Lawrence. Book of Saints. New York City, New York: Catholic Book Publishing, 1962-1979. Print.