I am The Immaculate Conception

Our Lady spoke to the young Bernadette Soubirous on February 11, 1858 in Lourdes. At first, Bernadette did not know who the Lady was. Our Lady did not speak to her on the first occasion but blessed the child with Her Most Holy Presence eighteen times. Our Lady told Bernadette

"I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the next"

As news of the Most Holy Presence of Our Lady spread, the town officials began harassing her and her family trying to stop them from visiting the Grotto but Bernadette was determined to go there. Our Lady asked for prayers for sinners and for sacrifices

During one of the Blessings Our Lady pointed towards a part of the Grotto and told Bernadette to drink from it. She could see no water but after digging a little, a spring began to appear. This spring has from that moment on, been the source for many miraculous healings

On the eleventh visit, Our Lady told Bernadette that she desired that a chapel be built at the Grotto. Bernadette conveyed this message to the parish priest but he would have nothing to do with it. Up to this moment, Our Lady had not told Bernadette who she was and the pastor asked her to find out the Lady's name. Was she a vision from heaven? On March 25th, Bernadette pleaded with Our Lady three times to tell her who She was. Our Lady told her

"I am the Immaculate Conception"

Four years before, Pope Pius IX had declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the belief that Mary was conceived without sin.

Our Lady then left and Bernadette ran to the parish priest to tell him what Our Lady told her. Bernadette did not understand the phrase

Our Lady Blessed Bernadette on a further two occasions.

Bernadette enrolled at the Lourdes hospice and school and later joined the Sisters of Nevers.

Saint Bernadette died in 1879 from tuberculosis and was Canonised on December 8, 1933.

Saint Bernadette Soubirous

The Sleeping Saint of Nevers

Since the Blessed Virgin Mary graced the grotto of Lourdes with Her presence in 1858, it has been one of the most popular of the worlds' Marian shrines. Many people have knelt at the famous rock and prayed to Saint Bernadette, who saw the Immaculate Virgin on eighteen occasions. And yet many people do not know that the body of Saint Bernadette lies incorrupt in the chapel of the convent of Saint-Gildard at Nevers, and that this convent is open to the public

Today, the Convent of Saint Gildard carries on the message of Lourdes, praying for poor sinners and bringing God to mankind in the same way He Himself chose - through His Immaculate Mother, Mary. Many pilgrims visit the convent on their return from Lourdes, others come out of curiosity, perhaps disbelieving that Bernadette's body is indeed perfectly preserved

Bernadette died on 16th April 1879. Her body was buried in the small chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph, within the convent grounds. In September of 1909, Bernadettes body was exhumed, as part of the process leading to her eventual canonisation. The hollowed-out tomb was extremely humid - her habit was very damp, the rosary held in her hands was rusted and her crucifix had turned green. Yet despite this, the body itself was perfectly preserved. Two further exhumations in April 1919 and April 1925 were carried out. At the third , the skin was found to have discoloured slightly in places, due probably to exposure to the air following the forty-six years of burial. Because of this, the firm of Pierre Imans in Paris made light wax coverings for the face and hands. By June of 1925, the Cateland workshop in Lyon had finished the gilt and crystal reliquary which was to be the final resting place of the saint; the light wax masks were placed on the face and hands and the body was placed in the shrine. The same month, Pope Pius XI beatified Bernadette - she could now be called "Blessed" and her remains could be publicly venerated

In August, the shrine was ceremonially placed in the main chapel of the convent, and the long line of pilgrims began to visit the convent. In 1933 Bernadette was declared a Saint - appropriately, this took place on December 8th, feast of the Immaculate Conception

The Lady of Lourdes had kept the promise She made to Bernadette in 1858 - "I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the next"

The warm, dry weather makes long walks in the grounds very pleasant. Its very easy to imagine Saint Bernadette herself walking here, especially as there have been few changes since that time. Behind the convent, at the end of an avenue of chestnut trees, is the tiny chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph

This was one of Saint Bernadette's favourite places for quiet prayer, as she had a fond love of the Spouse of Mary. It was later to become her resting place during the forty-six years of her burial. It is very plain and simple, with a stained-glass window of Our Lady above the small altar. Inset into the wall is the tombstone from Saint Bernadette's original grave

At the bottom of the garden is the statue of Our Lady of the Waters, Saint Bernadette's favourite statue; "It has something of the beauty I saw" she used to say about it. It was placed here following the discovery of a spring nearby, hence the name

Upstairs in the convent is the Sante Croix (Holy Cross) Infirmary. This is the room in which Saint Bernadette died in April 1879, having entered the "white chapel" of her sick-bed the previous December

It is now a chapel proper, used by the Sisters themselves for quiet prayer. There is an inspirational atmosphere in this room, stemming from the knowledge that this is where the thirty-five year old sister spent the last months of her life before once more seeing the heavenly smile of her Beautiful Lady

Bernadette's long periods of illness were never wasted on self-pity or bitterness - each became for her an opportunity of self-knowledge and personal and spiritual growth. For her, illness was not a burden but a special gift from her loving God, whose supreme gift was the Cross

It is almost one hundred and sixteen years since Sister Marie-Bernarde died, but her presence is everywhere in Saint-Gildards convent. And from June 1995, the civil authorities in Nevers will stage a daily pageant in the town (with a cast of four hundred) to celebrate her life and message. The spirituality and holiness of this humble servant of God remain a focus and an inspiration for many.

Prayer to Our Lord

Novena In Honour of the Immaculate Conception

O IMMACULATE Virgin! Mary, concieved without sin !

Remember, thou wert miraculously preserved from

every shadow of sin, because thou wert destined

to become, not only the Mother of God, but also

the refuge, and the advocate of man; penetrated

therefore with the most lively confidence in thy

never-failing intercession , we most humbly

implore thee to look with favour upon the intentions

of this novena, and to obtain for us the graces and

the favours we request. Thou knowest, O Mary, how

Obtain for us, then, that angelic purity which

was thy favourite virtue, that purity of heart which

will attach us to God alone, and that purity of intention

which will consecrate every though, word, and action

to His greater glory. Obtain also for us a constant

spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we may recover

by penance that innocence which we have lost by sin,

pray for us who have recourse to thee.

* Saint Bernadette - Pray for us *

Saint Bernadette, so Blessed and dearly loved by Heaven

we love you and ask that you pray for us and with us