Today, Feb. 18, is the Feast Day of St. Bernadette Soubirous

* February 18 – Saint Bernadette Soubirous (d. 1879)  * “After one has seen her once, one would wish to die to see her again” — An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association February 18 – Saint Bernadette Soubirous (d. 1879) “After one has seen her once, one would wish to die to see her again” Bernadette Soubirous was 14 when she saw the Virgin for the first time. In February 1858, when she was collecting wood with two other girls, the Virgin Mary appeared to her in the hollow of the rock of Massabielle, near Lourdes (south of France). Eighteen apparitions took place between February and July 1858. During the third apparition, on February 18, 1858, the ‘beautiful lady’ who appeared to Bernadette, spoke. Bernadette held up a writing tablet to her and asked her to write down her name. The Lady said: “It is not necessary,” and she added: “I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other. Would you do me the favor of coming here for 15 days?” Charged with transmitting the message of the Virgin Mary, but not to make people believe it, Bernadette suffered many accusations made by her contemporaries. On July 7, 1866, she joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity in Nevers (central France). It was something to hear her say: “Mary is so beautiful that when one has seen her once, one would wish to die to see her again.” She died on April 16, 1879, in Nevers at the age of 35. Her coffin was subsequently opened 3 times and each time her body was found incorrupt. notredamedesneiges.over-blog.com Saint Bernadette Soubirous Saint Bernadette of Lourdes www.mariedenazareth.com Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen. God Does Exist