Source: Catholic Culture Audiotapes
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Summary
Early Life and Family Background

• Saint Bernadette Soubirous was born on January 7th, 1844, to Francois Soubirous and Louise Casterot, and was baptized the next day by Father Dominique Peyramale (00:01:17)
• Bernadette’s childhood was carefree, but she suffered from asthma and palpitations after contracting cholera at the age of 10, and her family lived in poverty in a one-room dwelling called the Cachot (00:02:09)

The First Apparition and Initial Visions

• On February 11, 1858, Bernadette saw a lady, who would later be identified as the Virgin Mary, in a niche above a cave in the rock of Massabielle, and this encounter marked the beginning of a series of visions and conversations with the lady (00:03:59)
• Bernadette Soubirous had multiple encounters with a lady at The Grotto, where the lady would speak and pray with her, and she was instructed to tell the priests to build a chapel and to ask the people to come to The Grotto in procession (00:15:10)

Skepticism and the Demand for Proof

• The lady told Bernadette to drink from and wash in a spring, which initially appeared to be just mud, but later produced clear water that people believed to be a gift from God, and it even healed a man’s injured eye (00:17:09)
• Bernadette’s messages from the lady were met with skepticism by Father Peramal, who demanded to know the lady’s name and for her to make a rose bush at The Grotto blossom before he would consider building a chapel (00:22:01)

The Identity of the Lady and Theological Significance

• Bernadette asked the lady to tell her who she was, and after repeating the question four times, the lady said “era immaculada conceptio” and then disappeared (00:30:10)
• The lady’s words “I am the Immaculate Conception” were explained to Bernadette by Mademoiselle Estrad, who told her that Pope Pius IX had applied these words to the Blessed Virgin Mary four years ago (00:32:12)

Miracles and Their Impact on Bernadette’s Health

• During one of the apparitions, a doctor observed that the flame of Bernadette’s candle had engulfed her fingers and palm without burning them, which he found amazing (00:35:55)
• Bernadette Soubirous collapsed in April 1862 and was prescribed medicine, but after drinking water from the Grotto, she felt a significant improvement in her health (00:43:05)

Personal Challenges and Spiritual Decisions

• Our Lady’s statue was placed in the Grotto, but Bernadette felt that it did not accurately represent the living sacredness of God’s mother, as the sculptor made her smile too little and look too big (00:43:37)
• Bernadette’s little brother, Justin, died in 1865, and soon after, the bishop visited and spoke to her about getting married or entering the convent, leading her to choose the Sisters of Nevers (00:44:31)

Canonization and Legacy

The faithful celebrate two additional feast days for Bernadette: April 16th, the day of her death, and February 11th, the day she first encountered the Lady (00:58:25)

Bernadette Soubirous’ body was found to be perfectly preserved years after her death, with her Rosary rusted and habit frayed, as if she had just fallen asleep (00:57:48)

Pope Pius XI declared Bernadette a saint of the Catholic Church on December 8, 1933, with her feast day fixed for February 18th (00:58:01)