St. Bernadette Soubirous

Bernadette: Princess of Lourdes

Book cover: 'Bernadette: Princess of Lourdes'
Copyright: 
1993
Publisher: 
CCC
Subject(s): 
Saint Stories
Setting: 
19th century
Grade / Age level: 
Elementary
Resource Type: 
Animated Video
Review: 
A sweet, fully animated, half hour movie for young children, about the apparitions of Our Lady to Saint Bernadette, in Lourdes France in the mid 1800s. The story is told from the point of view of a family with a crippled boy about to visit Lourdes, whose father explains why they are making the trip.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

30 minute video

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
3-3-01

The Song of Bernadette

Book cover: 'The Song of Bernadette'
Copyright: 
1945
Publisher: 
20th Century Fox
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
19th century
Grade / Age level: 
All ages
Resource Type: 
Videos
Review: 
This is a beautiful, Academy Award winning movie depicting the apparitions of Our Lady to Saint Bernadette in Lourdes, France, in the mid-1800s. The depiction is accurate - based on the book of the same title by Franz Werfel - but also beautifully and powerfully produced. Jennifer Jones is the simple and unpretentious Bernadette, Vincent Price is a town magistrate who is skeptical of the apparitions and rather hostile to Bernadette. An excellent family film and one of the finest Hollywood films of a religious nature.
Additional notes: 

black and white, 156 min

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
3-3-01

Bernadette, Our Lady's Little Servant

Book cover: 'Bernadette, Our Lady's Little Servant'
Author(s): 
Hertha Pauli
Number of pages: 
187 pages
Copyright: 
1956
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Sewn Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
19th century
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
High School
Review: 
In the consistent style of the Vision Series of non-fiction Catholic stories for young people, the author presents a very engaging account of the important story of Our Lady's appearnces to Bernadette Soubirous - probably the poorest and simplest child in the small town of Lourdes, France. Bernadette's beautiful devotion is inspiring and her stubborn honesty is refreshing. More important, however, is Our Lady's message and her profound effect on those who come to her out of devotion and sometimes only curiosity. Many people who have visited the famous spring at Lourdes have experienced miraculous cures, but there are many more miracles that can be seen only within the human heart.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
11-16-99

Links of Interest

Excerpts from a Letter from St. Bernadette about the Apparitions I had gone down one day with two other girls to the bank of the river Gave when suddenly I heard a kind of rustling sound. I turned my head toward the field by the side of the river but the trees seemed quite still and the noise was evidently not from them. Then I looked up and caught sight of the cave where I saw a lady wearing a lovely white dress with a bright belt. On top of each of her feet was a pale yellow rose, the same color as her rosary beads. Our Lady of Lourdes Novena Beautiful Photos from Lourdes Prayers and Devotions for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes Pope John Paul II Angelus Message on His Pilgrimage to Lourdes, 2004 Encyclical of Pope Pius XII Warning Against Materialism on the Centenary of the Apparitions at Lourdes Clairity Daily: Our Lady's Place Rock of Massabielle, Poem Castle of the Immaculate: St. Bernadette and the Marian Vow Pope Benedict XVI on the Message of Lourdes "The message that the Madonna continues to spread at Lourdes recalls the words Jesus pronounced at the beginning of his public mission and that we hear again often during these days of Lent: 'Convert and believe in the Gospel,' pray and do penance."