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BERNADETTE OF LOURDES by Catherine Simon
A Family in Need On 7th January 1844 François and Louise Soubirous (formerly Casterot) gave birth to their first child. They named her Bernadette. She was baptised two days later on her parents’ first wedding anniversary. Her baptismal name was Marie-Bernarde. François and Louise had nine children, five of whom did not survive beyond the age of ten. Bernadette’s brother Jean-Marie alone has descendants alive today. The family lived in the little Pyrenean village of Lourdes and made their home at the Boly Mill with the rest of the Casterot family. Eventually they left the mill due to insufficient funds and found refuge in a disused prison cell called Le Cachot. The family of six lived in cramped and smelly conditions, sharing two beds between them. François accepted what work he could find whilst Bernadette battled against her poor health. Her strong desire to make her First Holy Communion led her to school with the Sisters of Nevers, who failed to be impressed by the fourteen year old and her limited understanding of theological concepts. The ‘Beautiful Girl Dressed in White’ On Thursday 11th February 1858, despite her mother’s reluctance, Bernadette set out into the bitter cold to gather firewood with her sister, Toinette, and a friend, Jeanne Abadie (nicknamed Baloume). Together the girls arrived at the Grotto of Massabielle, where Toinette and Baloume hurriedly crossed the freezing waters of the mill stream to collect firewood. Determined not to be defeated by her asthma, Bernadette bent down to remove her footwear. As she did so, she heard a noise like a gust of wind. The noise repeated. As she looked up at the Grotto she saw the branches of a wild rosebush moving. Out of the darkness of the cave appeared a soft light, followed by a beautiful girl dressed in white who smiled and beckoned her. Bernadette rubbed her eyes but the smiling girl did not disappear. Deciding to reach into her apron for her rosary, Bernadette became afraid and her hand fell.
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