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| St. Bernadette Soubirous, ora pro nobis |
Humílium Deus protéctor et amátor, qui fámulam tuam Maríam Bernárdam Immaculáte Vírginis Maríæ apparitióne et allóquio recreásti: præsta, quæsumus, ut, per simplices fídei sémitas, ad tuam in cælis visiónem perveníre mereámur. Per Dóminum.
February 18 is the Feast of St. Bernadette Soubirous, Virgin, Mystic, and Seer at Lourdes. She is the patron saint of Lourdes, shepherds, the sick, the poor, and those ridiculed for their faith.
Bernadette was born on 7 January 1844 at Lourdes, France. At the age of 14, the young shepherdess witnessed eighteen visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary between 11 February and 16 July 1858 at the Massabielle grotto on the bank of the Gave de Pau River.
Identifying herself as “the Immaculate Conception,” Our Lady revealed a spring with miraculous healing properties to Bernadette and instructed her to build a shrine at the location. Completing the task, a sanctuary was built and many miracles have since been attributed to the waters and holy place.
In 1866, Bernadette enters the Sisters of Charity at Neves, where she remained until her death on 16 April 1879. She was canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI.
In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to St. Bernadette in Latin and English. The accompanying photo was taken at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.
Prayer to St. Bernadette Soubirous
O God who dost love and protect the humble and who transformed thy handmaid Marie Bernadette by the apparition and spoken word of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant, we beseech Thee, that following the simple pathways of Faith, we may be deemed worthy to come to thy heavenly vision. Through our Lord.
