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Saint Bernadette
Soubirous
The preserved body of
Saint Bernadette is on view at
this convent in Nevers where she lived.
Marie-Bernarde
Soubirous – later and better
known as Saint Bernadette – was born in Lourdes in 1844. At
the
age of 14, she reported seeing 18 apparitions of “a
Lady.” At age 22 she moved from Lourdes to Nevers, residing
at the
Sisters of Charity Convent, shown above.
Following some
initial skepticism on the part of the
Roman Catholic Church, her claims of visions were believed and the
apparition which had appeared to her came to be known as “Our
Lady of Lourdes.” After her death, Lourdes became a major
pilgrimage destination.
Perhaps the most
amazing thing about the story of
Bernadette has to do with the apparent fact that her body did not
decompose normally after death. Her corpse was exhumed in 1909, 30
years after she was buried, and those present (including two medical
doctors) stated that the remains had not decomposed appreciably. The
body was disinterred again in 1919, following which it was placed in a
gold and silver reliquary which is on public view at the Chapel of St.
Bernadette in Nevers.
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Bernadette
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