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The Incorruptible Sister Bernadette As the story goes, Bernadette Soubirous saw visions of the Virgin Mary 18 times. The Virgin told her to dig into the dirt with her hands, and when she did, a water came up from a spring known as Lourdes. To this day it still flows, and thousands of miracles and cures are said to have happened because of it's water. People from all over the world, from all religions go to Lourdes.
There is no explanation for this as there were no
embalming or special treatments given to her body at the time of her
burial. The Catholic Church recognizes this as a sign of holiness and one
of the 'traits' to entitle someone to Sainthood.
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Bernadette
joined the Sisters of Charity of Nevers and lived in the convent until her
death in 1879 and was exhumed in September 1909 and again in April 1919.
When exhumed in 1925 - 46 years after her death - there was a slight
discoloration on the body, so a light wax covering was made for her face
and hands - and the body was never reburied. It remains on display in the
Chapel of the Convent of St. Gildard at Nevers
