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St. Bernadette of Lourdes
Feast Day April 16

Patron of the Ill and the Poor

Little Bernadette, who lived with suffering an pain her entire life, was also born into a poor family.  She is a saint who understands what it is to have little.  She also knows how blessed and rich one can feel when Jesus fills your heart and soul.  A life without the Eucharist is a life of poverty of soul, a life without the best medicine available for an empty heart.  Let us pray to Bernadette to help us find the riches and joy in a life lived for Christ.  Let us ask her intercession for our loved ones who are missing the Eucharist in their own lives.

 Who is St. Bernadette of Lourdes?

Bernadette Soubirous was the first child of an extremely poor miller in the town of Lourdes, France. When she was 14 years of age, on February 11,1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to her.  Bernadette had not yet even made her first Holy Communion. She suffered from asthma most of her life leaving her In poor health.

Saint Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity where she died at age 36 after many years of sufferings which she bore patiently. She was canonized in 1933.

Bernadette said the lady in her visions held a rosary and told her, "I am the Immaculate Conception." It was only when the words were explained to her that Bernadette came to realize who the Lady was.

A Prayer to Saint Bernadette

St. Bernadette, little shepherdess of Lourdes, intercede for me that I too, may walk the simple paths of faith. Help me to imitate your example, at our heavenly Queen's request, by saying the Rosary daily and by doing penance for sinners. Teach me to imitate your wonderful devotedness to God and Our Lady the Immaculate Conception so that like you, I may be blessed with the grace of lasting faithfulness and enjoy the happiness in heaven of the eternal vision of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Words of St Bernadette

When one of the Mothers said to her: “We will pray that God may relieve your pain,” she answered, “No! Don’t pray for relief for me, only for patience.”

The last words she wrote in her little spiritual notebook were: “The more I am crucified, the more I rejoice.”