St. Bernadette Soubirous

Patron Saint of Bodily Illness and Lourdes, France

St. Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France during the 19th century. She was the first of nine children born to a very poor family. Throughout most of her childhood, Bernadette suffered from various illnesses. She is known for being present during apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes. During the 13th apparition, the Blessed Mother asked Bernadette to build a chapel in the place of the apparitions. Trying to escape the attention she received after the apparitions, Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. There she lived a simplistic life until she died at 35 from tuberculosis.