Bernadette Soubirous is a popular Catholic saint who is famous for her claims that she saw the mother of Jesus Christ. This statement has been recognized by the Catholic Church as true. After that, Bernadette's hometown, Lourdes, became a place of mass pilgrimage for Christians, and it remains so to this day.
The biography of a saint
Bernadette Soubirous was born in the small French town of Lourdes, located in the Hautes-Pyrenees department. The settlement, which today has a population of less than 15 thousand people, stands on the river Gave-de-Pau. The heroine of our article was born in 1844.
It is interesting that at birth she was given the name Maria Bernarda. Bernadette Soubira was called much later. The family raised five surviving children, of which she was the eldest.
The girl's father worked at a mill, and her mother worked as a laundress. The family lived on the verge of poverty, often lacking money for the bare necessities. Because of this, children were sent to work as early as possible, so Bernadette Soubirous did not receive anyeducation. She has been a maid since the age of 12.
Apparitions of the Virgin Mary
For the first time the heroine of our article saw the Virgin Mary on February 11, 1858. At this time, in the vicinity of her hometown, she collected bones for a junk dealer and firewood for a fire. At that moment, she noticed that the grotto located nearby was illuminated by a light of unknown origin. The wild rose bush sways at the very entrance, as if from the wind. Inside the grotto was illuminated, and Bernadette, in her own words, saw something white, which at first reminded her of a young lady.
Over the next few months until July 16, the Virgin Mary appeared to the heroine of our article 17 more times. Bernadette always saw her in this very place. During 11 appearances, the figure did not utter a word, but then began to call for repentance of sinners, and also ordered the construction of a chapel on this very spot.
The girl repeatedly asked her to give her name, to which she, in the end, said: "I am the Immaculate Conception." These words baffled the priest, whom Bernadette told everything. He was convinced that an illiterate teenager, who knows little about the very foundations of faith, could not know about the Dogma dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the mother of Jesus Christ. This fact was one of the few that spoke in favor of the veracity of Bernadette's words.
Evidence of being right
Of course, everyone refused to believe Bernadette at first. Then she, as the image that appeared to her, in front of numerouswitnesses began to drink muddy water in the corner of the grotto and eat grass. It was a symbol of repentance for all sinners. Shortly thereafter, a powerful spring of crystal water broke through in that very corner, which is still considered healing.
At the same time, at first, all the testimonies of the heroine of our article about the appearance of the Virgin Mary were received with distrust. Difficulties also arose because no one, except the girl herself, saw a wonderful image.
The priest and local authorities subjected her to constant interrogation, frightening her with prison if everything she said was not true. You were asked to publicly admit that it was all a lie. The local newspaper was also skeptical of Bernadette's words. Journalists believed that the girl who talks about miracles is prone to catalepsy and thus simply tries to stir up the local population.
Occitan
Bernadette herself claimed that the image that appeared to her spoke Occitan. This is the language of the indigenous population of the very south of France, as well as several adjacent regions of Italy and Spain. Approximately two million people currently use it in their daily lives.
All this only increased the suspicions of others, as well as hostility and distrust of her words. The fact is that the Occitan language, in fact, was just a dialect. Therefore, in the eyes of educated people, it was the lot of the lower strata of the population.
Church Change
Not right away, but the attitude towards what Bernadette says began to change over time. First steps towards thismade by the church itself. In 1863, the heroine of our article was received by Bishop Forkad. He became one of the key figures in the recognition of the Lourdes apparitions, and eventually took monastic vows from Bernadette herself.
In the 60-70s of the XIX century, pilgrimages began to the holy spring and the grotto in it, many wanted to visit these places.
After the official church recognized the correctness of the girl, increased attention was riveted to her. She didn't like it much. She repeatedly emphasized that there was simply no merit in the fact that the Mother of God appeared to her.
Bernadette repeatedly insisted that she was not en titled to this favor. At the same time, she compared herself to a stone that the Blessed Virgin picked up on the road. Moreover, she believed that she was chosen precisely because of her ignorance, and if they found someone even more ignorant, they would opt for him.
Monastic Vow
In 1868, the heroine of our article took tonsure in a monastery on the territory of Nevera. Her monastic vows were taken by the same Bishop Phorkad, who had his own parish in Nevers.
In the monastery, the girl lived the rest of her life, doing needlework and caring for the sick. In 1879, at the age of 35, she died of tuberculosis.
After death
After her death, her body was exhumed three times. The first time the procedure was carried out in 1909. To the surprise of many, the remains were untouched. This became a strong fact in favor of her canonization, which had long beendiscussed.
In 1919, the body was exhumed for the second time, and already in 1925, the relics of Bernadette Soubirous were transferred to the chapel in Nevers. They are in a special container for storing valuable relics of sacred religious significance. Saint Bernadette's relics placed in reliquary.
Canonization of saints
In 1925, the official beatification ceremony took place. This is a rite of reckoning the deceased to the face of the blessed in the Catholic Church. At the end of 1933, the official canonization took place. Since then, she has become Saint Bernadette Soubirous.
After that, Her Memorial Day was established. It is celebrated on April 16, besides, in France, another day dedicated to her is celebrated separately - February 18.
Over time, the place where St. Bernadette saw the Virgin has become one of the key centers of pilgrimage for Catholics around the world. About 5 million people visit it every year. According to the Catholic Church, in the first half century after the discovery of this holy place, four thousand people were completely cured. As a result, a sanctuary was erected in the vicinity of the grotto. This is a complex of buildings for religious purposes, which we will discuss in more detail later. The relics of the incorruptible Bernadette Soubirous are a popular pilgrimage site.
Cultural references
For the first time in a famous work of fiction, the name of the heroine of our article was mentioned in 1942 in the novel of the Austrian writer Franz Werfel, which was called "Bernadette's Song".
A year later, it was made into the film of the same name by Henry King in the USA. Jennifer Jones played the lead role. The 1943 tape describes in detail the miracle of Bernadette Soubirous - the meeting with the Virgin.
The American filmmakers decided to start producing the film after the wild popularity of Werfel's work. The film rights were purchased for $125,000. About 300 actresses were considered for the lead role in the film. Among them were such stars as Linda Darnell, Ann Baxter, Teresa Wright, Lillian Gish, Mary Anderson. King was leaning towards Darnell, but in the fall of 1942 he saw an audition for producer David Selznick's wife. The director was very intrigued by the young debutante, as a result, he decided to take a chance by approving her for the main role. Darnell also landed her role as the Virgin Mary.
Film shooting
Filming began in 1943. On the set, they organized the most ambitious scenery since the filming of the dramatic horror film by Wallace Worsley "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". The scenery was built by about a hundred workers, 26 buildings were erected, one of the largest was the cathedral of the city of Lourdes, whose height was more than 70 feet. A 450-meter grotto decoration was arranged nearby.
The picture was presented in 12 Oscar nominations and was able to win four statuettes. Jennifer Jones won Best Performance, Arthur Charles Miller won Best Cinematography in Black and White, Alfred Newman won Best Music Writer,The award for Outstanding Production Design went to William Darling, James Bavesi and Thomas Little. The film also won three Golden Globe Awards. After the release of this picture, the photo of St. Bernadette became known to all Catholic pilgrims, many after that wished to personally visit the holy places.
Lourdes - a place of pilgrimage for Catholics
After the Catholic Church recognized the fact of the appearance of the 14-year-old Bernadette of the Virgin Mary, the city of Lourdes became known far beyond the borders of France. It is believed that the miracle happened in one of the caves in the vicinity of the city.
After careful checks of all the facts, the apparition of the Virgin Mary was officially recognized, and Lourdes quickly became one of the most visited and popular cities in Europe. Several million pilgrims come here every year, about 70 thousand people seek a cure for ailments. As early as 1858, it was claimed that seven thousand cases of inexplicable healing had become known. As of 2013, only 69 were officially recognized as miraculous cures.
On the site where the mother of Jesus Christ first appeared before Bernadette, a sanctuary was built, called Notre Dame de Lourdes. The Sanctuary was erected on a voluntary basis. A bridge called Saint-Michel leads to it; it is a kind of entrance to an open-air religious institution. The role of the nave in this case is played by the Esplanade of Processions, that is, a wide open space in front of the grotto itself. The Underground Bastille of St. Pius X was erected on the territory, inwhich can simultaneously accommodate up to 25 thousand believers. In the niche of the altar there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, which is considered the main shrine of this place.
The sanctuary is based on two basilicas. These are the Neo-Gothic Upper Basilica and the neo-Byzantine Basilica of the Rose Garden. From them, pilgrims have the opportunity to descend to the grotto of Masabiel, where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared.
Water from the spring discovered in the cave by Bernadette is currently available to everyone. Photos of Bernadette Soubirous are sold everywhere.
