"Vessels of Light for Christ"
St Bernadette
When Mother Vauzou announced to her novices that Bernadette would soon be entering the Convent of St. Gildard, she did not hide her joy at seeing "the eyes which had perceived Our Lady." We taste some of this delight when we see Bernadette in her shrine. her eyes are closed, but she is there! Intact, that face upon which was reflected the marvelous light of the virginal mystery, the Immaculate Conception. Intact, those lips which conversed with the Virgin Mary. Intact, those hands which guided by the hands of Aquero, painfully scratched the soil of Massabielle and opened for us the miraculous spring of penance. Intact and present, this heart so tender and so strong which beats for the love of Jesus and His Mother, and on their account for all the sinners in the world. Intact, as if she had just gone to sleep, and awaits only the angel's call to rise to her feet. God did not want her to escape totally from our human wretchedness, nor leave her brothers and sisters for whom she gave her life. She is still among us — A.
Ravier, S.J.
After thirty years undisturbed in the tomb, Sister Marie Bernard's body was exhumed for examination. The cause for sainthood had begun. When the stone was lifted from the vault, the coffin was immediately seen. It was carried to the room prepared for it and placed on two trestles covered with a cloth. On one side was a table covered with a white cloth. The remains of Bernadette were to be placed on this table. The wooden coffin was unscrewed and the lead coffin cut open to reveal the body in a state of perfect preservation. There was not the slightest trace of an unpleasant smell. The Sisters who had buried her thirty years earlier noted only that her hands had fallen slightly to the left. The words of the surgeon and the doctor, who were under oath, speak for themselves:
"The coffin was opened in the presence of the Bishop of Nevers, the mayor of the town, his principal deputy, several canons and ourselves. We noticed no smell. The body was clothed in the habit of Bernadette's order. The habit was damp. Only the face, hands and forearms were uncovered."
"The head was tilted to the left. The face was dull white. The skin clung to the muscles and the muscles adhered to the bones. The eye sockets were covered by the eyelids. The brows were flat on the skin and stuck to the arches above the eyes. The lashes of the right eyelid were stuck to the skin. The nose was dilated and shrunken. The mouth was open slightly and it could be seen that the teeth were still in place. The hands, which were crossed on her breast, were perfectly preserved, as were the nails. The hands still held a rusting rosary. The veins on the forearms stood out."
Bernadette in death – 1879
"Like the hands, the feet were wizened and the toenails were still intact (one of them was torn off when the corpse was washed). When the habits had been removed and the veil lifted from the head, the whole of the shriveled body could be seen, rigid and taut in every limb. It was found that the hair, which had been cut short, was stuck to the head and still attached to the skull, that the ears were in a state of perfect preservation, that the left side of the body was slightly higher than the right from the hip up. The stomach had caved in and was taut like the rest of the body. It sounded like cardboard when struck. The left knee was not as large as the right. The ribs protruded as did the muscles in the limbs."
"So rigid was the body that it could be rolled over and back for washing. The lower parts of the body had turned slightly black. This seems to have been the result of the carbon of which quite large quantities were found in the coffin."
In witness of which we have duly drawn up this present statement in which all is truthfully recorded. Nevers, September 22, 1909, Drs. Ch. David, A. Jourdan.
The nuns washed the body, and placed it in a new coffin that was lined with zinc and padded with white silk. In the few hours in which it had been exposed to the air, the body had started turning black. The double coffin was closed, soldered, screwed down and sealed with seven seals. The workmen again returned Bernadette's body to the vault. It was 5.30 p.m. by the time the examination had been completed.
Ten years later, on April 3, 1919, another identification of the body of the venerable Bernadette was mandated. Doctor Talon and Doctor Comte conducted the examination in the presence of the Bishop of Nevers, the police commissioner, and representatives of the municipalities and church tribunal. Everything was just the same as at the first exhumation. Oaths were sworn, the vault was opened, the body transferred to a new coffin and reburied, all in accordance with canon and civil law. After the doctors had examined the body, they retired alone to separate rooms to write their personal reports without being able to consult each other.
The two reports coincided perfectly with each other and also with Doctors Jourdan and David's report of 1909. There was one new element concerning the state of the body. This was the existence of "patches of mildew and a layer of salt which seems to be calcium salt," and which were probably the result of the body having been washed during the first exhumation.
"When the coffin was opened the body appeared to be absolutely intact and odorless." (Dr. Talon was more specific: "There was no smell of putrefaction and none of those present experienced any discomfort.") The body is practically mummified, covered with patches of mildew and quite a notable layer of salts, which appear to be calcium salts. The skeleton is complete, and it was possible to carry the body to a table without any trouble. The skin has disappeared in some places, but it is still present on most parts of the body. Some of the veins are still visible."
At 5 p.m. that evening the body was reburied in the chapel of Saint–Joseph in the presence of the Bishop, Mother Forestier and the police commissioner. Here are some passages from Doctor Comte's report :
"At the request of the Bishop of Nevers I detached and removed the rear section of the fifth and sixth right ribs as relics; I noted that there was a resistant, hard mass in the thorax, which was the liver covered by the diaphragm. I also took a piece of the diaphragm and the liver beneath it as relics, and can affirm that this organ was in a remarkable state of preservation. I also removed the two patella bones to which the skin clung and which were covered with more clinging calcium matter. Finally, I removed the muscle fragments right and left from the outsides of the thighs. These muscles were also in a very good state of preservation and did not seem to have putrefied at all."
"From this examination I conclude that the body of the Venerable Bernadette is intact, the skeleton is complete, the muscles have atrophied, but are well preserved; only the skin, which has shriveled, seems to have suffered from the effects of the damp in the coffin. It has taken on a grayish tinge and is covered with patches of mildew and quite a large number of crystals and calcium salts, but the body does not seem to have putrefied, nor has any decomposition of the cadaver set in, although this would be expected and normal after such a long period in a vault hollowed out of the earth."
Nevers, April 3, 1919, Dr. Comte
In 1925, the third and final exhumation of the body was conducted. This was the occasion during which relics of the sacred body of Bernadette would be taken. Doctor Comte was again asked to conduct the procedure. Once the surgical part was over, he had the body swathed in bandages leaving only the face and hands free. Bernadette's body was then put back into the coffin, but left uncovered. At this point, a precise imprint of the face was molded so that the firm of Pierre Imans in Paris could make a light wax mask based on the imprints and on some genuine photos. This was common practice for relics in France, as it was feared that although the body was mummified, the blackish tinge to the face and the sunken eyes and nose would make an unpleasant impression on the public. Imprints of the hands were also taken for the presentation of the body. Three years later in 1928, Doctor Comte published a report on the exhumation of the Blessed Bernadette in the second issue of the Bulletin de I'Association medicale de Notre–Dame de Lourdes.
"I would have liked to open the left side of the thorax to take the ribs as relics and then remove the heart which I am certain must have survived. However, as the trunk was slightly supported on the left arm, it would have been rather difficult to try and get at the heart without doing too much noticeable damage. As the Mother Superior had expressed a desire for the Saint's heart to be kept together with the whole body, and as Monsignor the Bishop did not insist, I gave up the idea of opening the left-hand side of the thorax and contented myself with removing the two right ribs which were more accessible."
"What struck me during this examination, of course, was the state of perfect preservation of the skeleton, the fibrous tissues of the muscles (still supple and firm), of the ligaments, and of the skin, and above all the totally unexpected state of the liver after 46 years. One would have thought that this organ, which is basically soft and inclined to crumble, would have decomposed very rapidly or would have hardened to a chalky consistency. Yet, when it was cut it was soft and almost normal in consistency. I pointed this out to those present, remarking that this did not seem to be a natural phenomenon."
A crystal coffin was made for Saint Bernadette's body. She was placed in a chapel in the Church of St. Gildard at the convent in Nevers where she lived for thirteen years. She has remained undisturbed and on view in this chapel since August 3, 1925. The Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction at Nevers are not secretive about the body of St. Bernadette. They welcome visitors, and encourage learning about the life example and messages of their sister saint.
Glauco Schaffer
Lightship Beacon
A comment from Tom Croal
In 1962 I was in Nevers, France at the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity where Bernadette entered to become a nun when she was 22 years old. She was 35 years old when, after a long illness, she died. I saw her body (as pictured above) She looks like she's sleeping. We all know rhat our bodies decay and turn to dust. It's just a covering for our soul, the real essence of the "me." But I think that God wanted us to know that Bernadette was a very humble and childlike soul. He drew attention to that by not letting her body undergo complete corruption. It's for our benefit, not hers.
When she was 14 years old, on a cold February 11, 1858, at Massabielle she was picking up peices of wood just outside of the village called Lourdes in France. All of a sudden Bernadette saw a young woman holding a rosary. Because the woman was at a distance and a little above her, Bernadette wanted to find out who she was and where she came from. When she finlly got near she could see that the woman was smiling and asked Bernadette if she would do her the favor of returning to Massabielle for the followind days. Bernadette siad, "Of course I will, who are you and where did you come from?" The woman just smiled and vanished.
Now, 151 years later we know who that Lady was. Bernadette used to call her Aquero. Which means "who are you" in her native dialect. The woman never answered Bernadette until the 13th time they were together. After Bernadette pleaded with her. She said, "I am the Immaculate Conception." This meant nothing to Bernadette and by the way, she had a hard time pronouncing the name. When she told the priest at her parish church, the priest laughed at her and said, "Now I know you are ridiculous, you don't even know what the name means."
One time when Bernadette was at Massabielle, the Lady told Bernadette to dig a little hole in the ground with her fingers. When she did, water started bubbling up from the earth. Then the woman (Bernadette knew now that the woman was the Blessed Virgin Mary) asked her to rub the mud on her face. This was a test of her humility because there were over a thousand people watching. They began to laugh at Bernadette. Someone said, "Look -- she's a stupid little idiot." But from that bubbling flow of water came the stream that is still flowing today. Many incurable people have been cured. There are 67 cases which show beyond doubt from Xray and other medical means that conditions which did exist and even bones that did not exist before contact with the water have been completely altered. There are millions of people who go to Lourdes, France every year.
Bernadette suffered from asthma as a kid. It really never left her. When she was in her thirty's, as a nun, she developed something like osteomyelitis around her knee. It was terribly painful. Like someone jabbing an ice pick into her knee 24 hours a day. Of all people, you think that she would have found relief in the bubbling stream. But she said, "The water of Lourdes are not for me. for others -- not for me."
The Blessed Mother told Bernadette -- "I cannot promise you happiness on this earth -- but I do promise you happiness in Heaven.".......and that's what Bernadette lived for.
Ravier, S.J.
After thirty years undisturbed in the tomb, Sister Marie Bernard's body was exhumed for examination. The cause for sainthood had begun. When the stone was lifted from the vault, the coffin was immediately seen. It was carried to the room prepared for it and placed on two trestles covered with a cloth. On one side was a table covered with a white cloth. The remains of Bernadette were to be placed on this table. The wooden coffin was unscrewed and the lead coffin cut open to reveal the body in a state of perfect preservation. There was not the slightest trace of an unpleasant smell. The Sisters who had buried her thirty years earlier noted only that her hands had fallen slightly to the left. The words of the surgeon and the doctor, who were under oath, speak for themselves:
"The coffin was opened in the presence of the Bishop of Nevers, the mayor of the town, his principal deputy, several canons and ourselves. We noticed no smell. The body was clothed in the habit of Bernadette's order. The habit was damp. Only the face, hands and forearms were uncovered."
"The head was tilted to the left. The face was dull white. The skin clung to the muscles and the muscles adhered to the bones. The eye sockets were covered by the eyelids. The brows were flat on the skin and stuck to the arches above the eyes. The lashes of the right eyelid were stuck to the skin. The nose was dilated and shrunken. The mouth was open slightly and it could be seen that the teeth were still in place. The hands, which were crossed on her breast, were perfectly preserved, as were the nails. The hands still held a rusting rosary. The veins on the forearms stood out."
Bernadette in death – 1879
"Like the hands, the feet were wizened and the toenails were still intact (one of them was torn off when the corpse was washed). When the habits had been removed and the veil lifted from the head, the whole of the shriveled body could be seen, rigid and taut in every limb. It was found that the hair, which had been cut short, was stuck to the head and still attached to the skull, that the ears were in a state of perfect preservation, that the left side of the body was slightly higher than the right from the hip up. The stomach had caved in and was taut like the rest of the body. It sounded like cardboard when struck. The left knee was not as large as the right. The ribs protruded as did the muscles in the limbs."
"So rigid was the body that it could be rolled over and back for washing. The lower parts of the body had turned slightly black. This seems to have been the result of the carbon of which quite large quantities were found in the coffin."
In witness of which we have duly drawn up this present statement in which all is truthfully recorded. Nevers, September 22, 1909, Drs. Ch. David, A. Jourdan.
The nuns washed the body, and placed it in a new coffin that was lined with zinc and padded with white silk. In the few hours in which it had been exposed to the air, the body had started turning black. The double coffin was closed, soldered, screwed down and sealed with seven seals. The workmen again returned Bernadette's body to the vault. It was 5.30 p.m. by the time the examination had been completed.
Ten years later, on April 3, 1919, another identification of the body of the venerable Bernadette was mandated. Doctor Talon and Doctor Comte conducted the examination in the presence of the Bishop of Nevers, the police commissioner, and representatives of the municipalities and church tribunal. Everything was just the same as at the first exhumation. Oaths were sworn, the vault was opened, the body transferred to a new coffin and reburied, all in accordance with canon and civil law. After the doctors had examined the body, they retired alone to separate rooms to write their personal reports without being able to consult each other.
The two reports coincided perfectly with each other and also with Doctors Jourdan and David's report of 1909. There was one new element concerning the state of the body. This was the existence of "patches of mildew and a layer of salt which seems to be calcium salt," and which were probably the result of the body having been washed during the first exhumation.
"When the coffin was opened the body appeared to be absolutely intact and odorless." (Dr. Talon was more specific: "There was no smell of putrefaction and none of those present experienced any discomfort.") The body is practically mummified, covered with patches of mildew and quite a notable layer of salts, which appear to be calcium salts. The skeleton is complete, and it was possible to carry the body to a table without any trouble. The skin has disappeared in some places, but it is still present on most parts of the body. Some of the veins are still visible."
At 5 p.m. that evening the body was reburied in the chapel of Saint–Joseph in the presence of the Bishop, Mother Forestier and the police commissioner. Here are some passages from Doctor Comte's report :
"At the request of the Bishop of Nevers I detached and removed the rear section of the fifth and sixth right ribs as relics; I noted that there was a resistant, hard mass in the thorax, which was the liver covered by the diaphragm. I also took a piece of the diaphragm and the liver beneath it as relics, and can affirm that this organ was in a remarkable state of preservation. I also removed the two patella bones to which the skin clung and which were covered with more clinging calcium matter. Finally, I removed the muscle fragments right and left from the outsides of the thighs. These muscles were also in a very good state of preservation and did not seem to have putrefied at all."
"From this examination I conclude that the body of the Venerable Bernadette is intact, the skeleton is complete, the muscles have atrophied, but are well preserved; only the skin, which has shriveled, seems to have suffered from the effects of the damp in the coffin. It has taken on a grayish tinge and is covered with patches of mildew and quite a large number of crystals and calcium salts, but the body does not seem to have putrefied, nor has any decomposition of the cadaver set in, although this would be expected and normal after such a long period in a vault hollowed out of the earth."
Nevers, April 3, 1919, Dr. Comte
In 1925, the third and final exhumation of the body was conducted. This was the occasion during which relics of the sacred body of Bernadette would be taken. Doctor Comte was again asked to conduct the procedure. Once the surgical part was over, he had the body swathed in bandages leaving only the face and hands free. Bernadette's body was then put back into the coffin, but left uncovered. At this point, a precise imprint of the face was molded so that the firm of Pierre Imans in Paris could make a light wax mask based on the imprints and on some genuine photos. This was common practice for relics in France, as it was feared that although the body was mummified, the blackish tinge to the face and the sunken eyes and nose would make an unpleasant impression on the public. Imprints of the hands were also taken for the presentation of the body. Three years later in 1928, Doctor Comte published a report on the exhumation of the Blessed Bernadette in the second issue of the Bulletin de I'Association medicale de Notre–Dame de Lourdes.
"I would have liked to open the left side of the thorax to take the ribs as relics and then remove the heart which I am certain must have survived. However, as the trunk was slightly supported on the left arm, it would have been rather difficult to try and get at the heart without doing too much noticeable damage. As the Mother Superior had expressed a desire for the Saint's heart to be kept together with the whole body, and as Monsignor the Bishop did not insist, I gave up the idea of opening the left-hand side of the thorax and contented myself with removing the two right ribs which were more accessible."
"What struck me during this examination, of course, was the state of perfect preservation of the skeleton, the fibrous tissues of the muscles (still supple and firm), of the ligaments, and of the skin, and above all the totally unexpected state of the liver after 46 years. One would have thought that this organ, which is basically soft and inclined to crumble, would have decomposed very rapidly or would have hardened to a chalky consistency. Yet, when it was cut it was soft and almost normal in consistency. I pointed this out to those present, remarking that this did not seem to be a natural phenomenon."
A crystal coffin was made for Saint Bernadette's body. She was placed in a chapel in the Church of St. Gildard at the convent in Nevers where she lived for thirteen years. She has remained undisturbed and on view in this chapel since August 3, 1925. The Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction at Nevers are not secretive about the body of St. Bernadette. They welcome visitors, and encourage learning about the life example and messages of their sister saint.
Glauco Schaffer
Lightship Beacon
A comment from Tom Croal
In 1962 I was in Nevers, France at the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity where Bernadette entered to become a nun when she was 22 years old. She was 35 years old when, after a long illness, she died. I saw her body (as pictured above) She looks like she's sleeping. We all know rhat our bodies decay and turn to dust. It's just a covering for our soul, the real essence of the "me." But I think that God wanted us to know that Bernadette was a very humble and childlike soul. He drew attention to that by not letting her body undergo complete corruption. It's for our benefit, not hers.
When she was 14 years old, on a cold February 11, 1858, at Massabielle she was picking up peices of wood just outside of the village called Lourdes in France. All of a sudden Bernadette saw a young woman holding a rosary. Because the woman was at a distance and a little above her, Bernadette wanted to find out who she was and where she came from. When she finlly got near she could see that the woman was smiling and asked Bernadette if she would do her the favor of returning to Massabielle for the followind days. Bernadette siad, "Of course I will, who are you and where did you come from?" The woman just smiled and vanished.
Now, 151 years later we know who that Lady was. Bernadette used to call her Aquero. Which means "who are you" in her native dialect. The woman never answered Bernadette until the 13th time they were together. After Bernadette pleaded with her. She said, "I am the Immaculate Conception." This meant nothing to Bernadette and by the way, she had a hard time pronouncing the name. When she told the priest at her parish church, the priest laughed at her and said, "Now I know you are ridiculous, you don't even know what the name means."
One time when Bernadette was at Massabielle, the Lady told Bernadette to dig a little hole in the ground with her fingers. When she did, water started bubbling up from the earth. Then the woman (Bernadette knew now that the woman was the Blessed Virgin Mary) asked her to rub the mud on her face. This was a test of her humility because there were over a thousand people watching. They began to laugh at Bernadette. Someone said, "Look -- she's a stupid little idiot." But from that bubbling flow of water came the stream that is still flowing today. Many incurable people have been cured. There are 67 cases which show beyond doubt from Xray and other medical means that conditions which did exist and even bones that did not exist before contact with the water have been completely altered. There are millions of people who go to Lourdes, France every year.
Bernadette suffered from asthma as a kid. It really never left her. When she was in her thirty's, as a nun, she developed something like osteomyelitis around her knee. It was terribly painful. Like someone jabbing an ice pick into her knee 24 hours a day. Of all people, you think that she would have found relief in the bubbling stream. But she said, "The water of Lourdes are not for me. for others -- not for me."
The Blessed Mother told Bernadette -- "I cannot promise you happiness on this earth -- but I do promise you happiness in Heaven.".......and that's what Bernadette lived for.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Debra Sartelle on -
What a glorious account of self-sacrifice for the benefit of all others! I had never heard the story, Dear Glauco, and I appreciate you sharing it. Even in death, one can see the purity and obvious serenity on her face, as she is witness to our disbelieving eyes, that miracles do exist. Perhaps, we needed her testimony of a thousand words she humbly expresses, without saying a word. To us, she exemplifies the exaltation of God's Great Promise, if we come to Him through the sacred name of Jesus!! Yes, St. Bernadette, even in death, you are making believers out of those who may not have believed before. Thank You, Dear Jesus, for this obvious miraculous testimony of what "real" love is all about.
Love and God Bless You All,
Debra
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Permalink Reply by Fr Rod Walton on -
Thank you Glauco, I have always been interested in this story.There are many similar that all seem to fit together.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is appearing in many places at this time, with a universal message of asking people to return to the Gospel and repent.
God Bless
Fr Rod
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PTL!!!
Oh believe me, will do!!! There will be nothing hidden!!!
Please keep me posted brother, I enjoy hearing such non watered down truths!
Praise the LORD!!!
As I see it Roland, we as JESUS should be those that stand against the world's system of religion. We've been born anew, unto that which HE alone is the head of. The church as man has made it stands not with JESUS as it's head but…
Wow Rev. Barth,
You really do walk by faith and not by sight! I admire that, and must admit you step-out much more than I might be willing to do... I know all too well what you are describing however, it really is shameful what happens in man made…
Praise the LORD!!! I just read your story or least a clip of it. So true we really do serve an awesome GOD, who loves us beyond words. What you read here is but a taste of my testimony, my testimonial book, Out of the LIGHT can be found at the minis…
I read your experience in tears of shame and can symphatise with all you have experienced.
I am amazed at the lack of luster within the church.
I am presently building a church in Africa, where people hae no clean water and are dying of malaria ever…
Praise the LORD!!!
To anyone that would like to use this article or any of my writings to the glory of the LORD, feel free to do so. For I count my whole life as a blessing from the LORD and that which I've received freely, freely shall I give of it…
Bless you Rev Barth!
I loved the trip and the story.
It was was very up lifting for me this morning.
I was one of the ones who would not go to a church because of the people that sit in them.*L*
I'm older now and wiser.
Giving my life to God I see t…
Praise the LORD!!!
Thank you Dottie for the comments, I pray you enjoyed the trip:))) It encourages me to know that readers are being moved in their walks with JESUS through my writings. For if there was not this trait, they'd not be worth my time.…
I loved reading, and then also traveling, on this journey.. It makes it easier to understand when Jesus told his apostles to go out and not take any money, nor an extra tunic, or a bag.. God takes care of us, when we put our trust in him.. Thanks fo…
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