St.Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France on January 7th, 1844. Her parents were very poor and she was often sick. When she was 15 years old her parents sent her to go gather some firewood. While she was gathering the wood, a beautiful lady appeared to her. The lady was above a rosebush in the grotto in Massabielle.

She was dressed in blue and white. The lady smiled at Bernadette then she made a sign of the cross with a rosary of ivory and gold. Bernadette fell on her knees, took out her own rosary and began to say it. The beautiful lady was Jesus' mother, the blessed Virgin Mary. Mother Mary appeared to Bernadette seventeen times and spoke with her.

She told her to pray for sinners and do penance (penance is a small favour you do to make up for sin). The lady in blue and white also told her to ask the bishop to build a chapel there in her honour.

Many people did not believe Bernadette when she spoke of her vision. She suffered a great deal because of it. One day Mother Mary told her to dig in the mud near the chapel, as she did a spring of water began to flow. The next day it was larger and it continued to enlarge. A great number of miracles happened when people began to use the water.

When Bernadette was older she became a nun. Bernadette enjoyed praying to Mary and Jesus, working in the kitchen and in the convent. She did not want to receive any special treatment just because she had seen the Blessed Virgin Mother. Although her own health was very poor she helped care for the sick and elderly sisters. Bernadette died on April 16, 1879 at the young age of 36. Her last words were "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner". Bernadette was proclaimed a Saint by Pope Pius XI on December 8th, 1933.

St.Bernadette is the patron saint of those who are sick. The pope called Bernadette the "Lily of Mary". Today people still go to Lourdes to pray at Mary's Chapel.

Her feast day is celebrated on April 16th.