St. Bernadette accepted various forms of suffering in her life. In fact, she was a model for us whenever we are struggling with the trials of life. She not only endured the pain of physical illness for most of her life, but she also lived in a state of pretty severe poverty.
Here’s the crazy part. She gladly accepted the crosses she bore and understood how they brought her closer to Christ. Before the visions, Bernadette really accepted the poverty and illness she suffered in life, thanks to the faith she learned from her parents. After her miraculous encounters with our Blessed Mother, she truly embraced her suffering as a gift from God.
Evidently, she had offers to go to Paris where she could have made a fortune by selling her story of the visions, but she declined. In fact she said, “I want to remain poor.” (cited here, para 3) Her encounters with Mary allowed her to gain an insight that few of us could even imagine. She realized that in her poverty, she truly met Jesus, who came to earth and lived the life of a poor man.
Okay, is anyone else intimidated by that kind of faith? I mean, let’s be honest. In moments when I let pride get the best of me, I fancy myself a rather faithful individual. I have a daily prayer routine, I started writing this blog, I am studying theology, and I make an effort to be a positive influence in life. But I can’t even imagine wanting to appreciate poverty. If anything, I pray more often than I’d like to admit for things that involve my family having more money. How could she actually prefer to be poor?
And she didn’t just accept the poverty of her living conditions. She gladly accepted her suffering with illness. It sounds like she was never a healthy kid, and she carried that into adulthood. Her initial efforts to join a convent were delayed because she wasn’t healthy enough to make the trip. Once there, she did what she could despite the fact that she was too sick to participate in some aspects of their mission. In fact, I believe that’s what led to her working in the infirmary.
One source (here) shared these two quotes of St. Bernadette from her final days of life. “I am happier on my bed of pain than a queen on her throne.” and “To obey is to love, suffering in silence for Christ is joy, to love sincerely is to give everything, above all suffering.” (para 6)
It is hard to fathom her ability to accept the suffering in her life with such grace. And I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that she is the one who followed Mary’s instructions and found the spring that has been credited with the healing of so many people, but not herself. I get grumpy when I have a cough that seems to last for weeks after a cold or sinus infection.
I feel like the next thing I’m supposed to ask is how we might model ourselves after Bernadette and her incredible strength in the face of suffering. But I have a hard time even imagining it. Although, she is certainly living as Jesus calls us to live.
“Then he said to all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'” (Luke 9: 23) …daily. I’m not sure I thought about that important little word in this statement. He isn’t saying that we have to be ready to accept a cross that we might be asked to bear someday, like maybe at the end of life. We should expect to carry a cross daily, meaning every day of our lives.
But here’s the good news. We’re not alone. “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33) So that might be the important message of this look at St. Bernadette. It’s not about the impossibly high bar she set for courage and strength in the face of suffering. It is about her ability to find comfort in the Lord. May we all learn to follow that example.
Dear Lord, we come to You today with a sincere desire to take up our crosses and follow You. We pray for the courage to trust in You. Teach us to turn suffering into joy and to love sincerely above all suffering, as Bernadette was able to do.
And dear Jesus, I want to ask for Your particular care of my friend, Steve, who came home to You this week. Thank you for ending his suffering on earth, and thank You for bringing him to acceptance and peace when he began to realize that his battle was nearing the end. I understand that he found comfort in the desire to be with You in heaven, and I know he is enjoying that wonderful fulfillment right now. Please continue to send the Holy Spirit to hold up his dear wife and nine children as they learn to face this new reality of their lives. And guide us to be Your hands and Your voice as we try to show our love and support.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.