| 7th January 1844 |
The birth of Bernadette to Francois and
Louise Soubirous. She was christened Marie Bernadette on
9th January at St. Peter's Parish Church in Lourdes. |
| Autumn 1855 |
The plague broke out in Lourdes.
Bernadette was infected by the plague. Although she
recovered from it, she fell victim to asthma, and was to
suffer for this for the rest of her life. |
11th February -
16th July 1858 |
It was during this period that the
eighteen (18) apparitions took place. Our Lady on most
occasions simply prayed with Bernadette and allowed
herself to be contemplated. At other times, Our Lady
would converse with Bernadette, giving her instructions,
thus bequeathing to us the message and the spirituality of
Lourdes. |
| 19th May 1866 |
The crypt which formed the basis of the
Chapel in Lourdes (desired by Our Lady through
Bernadette) was inaugurated and consecrated by Bishop
Laurence of Tarbes. |
| 4th July 1866 |
Bernadette left Lourdes and entered the
Convent of Saint Gildard to become a nun under the Order
of the Sisters of Charity in Never. |
| 30th October 1867 |
Bernadette took her Religious Vows
together with 43 other novitiates. Bernadette remained
in Nevers because she was ill and considered incapable.
She was entrusted with the task of working in the
infirmary of the convent and of helping in the kitchen. |
| 16th April 1879 |
Bernadette had been suffering serious
attacks of asthma and tuberculosis of the bones of her
legs. She died at 3:00pm on this day. Bernadette was
just over 35 years old. |
| 23rd September 1903 |
Bernadette's body was exhumed, 30 years
after her death, as part of the ecclesiastical
investigation leading up to beatification and
canonisation. Her body was found to be incorrupt, the
whiteness of her body preserved and there was no odour. |
| 14th June 1925 |
The Beatification of Bernadette. |
| 8th December 1933 |
Pope Pius XI proclaimed Bernadette Saint.
The Canonisation of Bernadette Soubirous took place on
this day, which was the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception. |
| Present |
St. Bernadette's body is still in a
perfect state. Her body, covered by a thick layer of wax
for preservation, is resting inside a bronze and crystal
urn, in the chapel of the Convent of Nevers in France. |
