When Bernadette confided in the Virgin Mary

Bernadette's religious vocation was sparked in an extraordinary way, but her whole life before and after the apparitions, and in the convent as a nun, remained very ordinary. Since she had no tendency towards introspection, Bernadette never analyzed herself and barely ever talked about herself. However, we can find a few notes in her small diary that show she was a mystic, such as this prayer to the Virgin Mary:

"O my Mother, take my heart and place it in the heart of Jesus!" Or this ardent prayer to Our Lord: "Jesus, my God, I love you above all things!"

She also wrote: "It is not important to do a lot of things. What matters is to do things well." All of her actions were in accord with this goal. 30 years before Sainte Therese of Lisieux, Bernadette accomplished all her mundane daily chores with love. The Church has always encouraged us to do this, but it wasn’t the most recognized canon of holiness then.

In fact, Bernadette's attitude and actions often puzzled those who met her, sometimes even her superiors. One of them was annoyed by her rough simplicity, apparent lack of mysticism, and mischievousness, refusing to believe that the Mother of God could have chosen her. She asked Bernadette for a proof. In reply, Bernadette just lifted her habit to reveal a tuberculosis ulcer on her knee and said: "This one, maybe?" The other nun was deeply moved by this – especially since Bernadette continued performing her daily occupations despite the pain.

The last year of her earthly life, 1879, was a very hard year for her. In addition to physical suffering, she struggled through the night of faith, tormented by inner doubt. She eventually triumphed over this ordeal, by using all her willpower, through blind faith, taking refuge in Mary's embrace, resting on Jesus’ Heart, no matter what effort it cost her and asking for the grace to remain faithful.

The Marie de Nazareth editorial team