Bernadette Speaks: A Life of St. Bernadette Soubirous in Her Own Words

This books provides a lot of great perspective about Bernadette. I would recommend reading Franz Werfel's 'The Song Of Bernadette' first and also watch the movie of the same name which is available in the Blu-ray format. Werfel's book and the movie give the basic story and then this book provides a lot of details with the benefit of Rene Laurentin's years of research.Rene Laurentin says he doesn't like the movie but I disagree.It's interesting to compare what happened at Lourdes with the Marian apparitions at Fatima since the two events were quite different. Fatima was much more dramatic with the miracle of the Sun and the prophecies about World War II. The apparitions at Lourdes were more subdued and seemed to almost be something personal that happened between Bernadette and Mary.One gets the sense that there's some sort of deep bond and connection between those two souls. In fact that is correct.Both Lourdes and Fatima show what can happen when truly supernatural events occur. Chaos can erupt and conflicts with the civil authorities can happen.Mary told Bernadette three secrets which Bernadette took to her grave. That's something people wonder about. Bernadette said these secrets involved her only so it wasn't something that she needed to reveal to the world. This is a big difference between Lourdes and Fatima since the secrets of Fatima were very important for the world.Bernadette's life was filled with suffering. I agree with Rene Laurentin that perhaps Bernadette's heaviest cross was her feelings of inadequacy and not being important.One of the head nuns at the convent, Sister Mere 'Marie-Therese' Vauzou, is one of the villains in the story. Soeur Mere Vauzou looked down on Bernadette because of her humble background and she was envious of Bernadette because of the apparitions. This morbid nun told Bernadette that back in the old days she would have been burned at the stake for saying she had seen a goddess in a cave.This is a rock solid book for Bernadette fans who want to get a clearer picture of the 'secret saint'. The book also contains a lot of great pictures.I should add that I don't believe in some of the alleged appearances of Mary throughout history. I don't believe in the Marian apparitions at La Salette or Medjugorje. The only ones I believe in that I've heard about are Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe. The Song of Bernadette The Song of Bernadette (BLU RAY) Fatima in Lucia's Own Words The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima Augustine of Hippo: A Biography Hesiod's Theogony (Focus Classical Library) Initiation in the Great Pyramid (Astara's library of mystical classics) Edgar Cayce's Story of Jesus (Paperback) Edgar Cayce on the Reincarnation of Biblical Characters Life of Leonardo Da Vinci

It's a wonderful book based on the well-researched facts by the author. He leads us through the events without sensationalizing them, which is extremely important in this case. The book has many pictures and overall is of a very good quality. Highly recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was blessed to be able to read this book while on a Catholic pilgrimage to Lourdes, and then onto Nevers, to see Bernadette's body at the convent where she rests in peace. I absolutely loved getting to know Bernadette's personality, wit, frankness, and to see how real of a person she was. By the time I arrived in Nevers I felt like I knew Bernadette. To read about her hometown, and everything she experienced in Lourdes, her family, all the apparitions, all her thoughts and feelings about the statues of Our Lady, and finally the convent, all while touring these places, was very special to me. I am not a great reader, as I tend to read slowly and often forget what I read. But this book was so interesting and easy to read, so it kept me engaged and loving every page from beginning to end. I shed a lot of tears reading this book, but for anyone who is a fan of Bernadette, or has even just watched the movie about her, I highly recommend this book so one can fully understand what she was about..a very real, frail, fun, mischievous, strong, beautiful soul. I love Bernadette!

Thank you Bernadette for leading me to God. Had to say that first :)Now, about the book: It's a beautiful volume filled to overflowing with insights and quotes about and by Bernadette Soubirous. There are many images I have not seen in other books or websites about this beautiful saint who was so graced. God chooses the least and most humble, so there can be no mistaking His work, no mistaking the messenger for the Message.Bernadette referred to herself as the broom that had been placed behind the door after our Immaculate Mother finished using her.Despite all this, we are drawn to you, Bernadette, like moths to a flame. You were given a great grace, which we can only hope for at our passing from this world. Be generous to us poor hungry souls, pray for us :)She said of herself, her job was to suffer (redemptive suffering), for which I thank you, as your reparations continue to lead souls to God.Great book, worth every penny (especially since I got it for only a few dollars used.) If you want to know about Saint Bernadette, this book has a lot to offer that I had not found elsewhere. Glad to add this to my growing collection :)

I am in the midst of the unusually inspiring book and I cannot put it down. Perhaps I will add more very soon. I am not exactly certain why this is so interesting and inspiring except to add that she was carefully watched by all around her, to see if there was pride. All watched to see how she was taking the spotlight and taking the fact that she was the bearer of the message of Lourdes. When one goes to research the image of Bernadette and how she has not suffered any decay, one is struck by her unexpected and ethereal beauty as well. The quality she had of youth and of a spiritual supernatural beauty is mentioned as the book unfold, by clergy and priests as well as her doctors and strangers who could not help but comment, somehow draws me through this book. She was unmoved by their awe of her and remained solidly focused only on the truth of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother. Bernadette is far more than an inspiration. More later.

I bought this book after hearing Fr Benedict Groeschel talk about the Marian apparitions (YouTube), including Lourdes. He recommended this book as the definitive book on Bernadette .. it certainly seemed so. With 20 years of research by Marian scholars of the Society of Mary priests (S.M.), it was written from a study from 1956-71, originally in French then translated into English. Fr Groeschel was right .. I really got to know Bernadette from her own words and the comments of the researchers.

Not a bad read, little bit heavy.

Great real life of account of Bernadette. Glad I purchased this version.

Very Good

Anything by Laurentin is worth reading. This book is no exception. Easy to read and invaluable for those who wish to know more about Bernadette

Hard to believe she was only four feet one! A dynamic little thing. What suffering! I'd rather realize heaven on earth than have to suffer to get to it but what do I know?