PATRON SAINT OF: Bodily ills, illness, Lourdes France, people ridiculed for their piety, poverty, shepherdesses, shepherds, sick people, sickness

GUIDANCE: Oldest of six children in a very poor family headed by Francois and Louise Casterot. She was hired out as a servant from age 12 to 14. Shepherdess. On 11 February 1858, around the time of her first Communion, she received a vision of the Virgin. She received seventeen more visions in the next five months, and was led to a spring of healing waters. She moved into a house with the sisters of Nevers at Lourdes where she lived, worked, and learned to read and write. The sisters cared for the sick and indigent, and at age 22 they admitted Bernadette into their order since she was both. Always sick herself, and often mistreated by her superiors, she died with a prayer for Mary's aid. Since the appearances of Mary to young Bernadette in 1858, more than 200 million people have visited the shrine of Lourdes.

FEAST DAY: April 16

SAMPLE AFFIRMATIONS: My body is healed through my Faith in God . . . I AM miraculously healed through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes . . . My body is strong, healthy and vibrant.

SAMPLE PRAYER: Father, it feels as though one challenge after another keeps happening to me. So many challenging things have happened to me that sometimes my spirit gets low and I feel so alone. Even though I know that You are with me; my body, mind and spirit desires vitality and Good health. I ask you to comfort me and bring my entire spiritual and physical being into full and blossoming Good health.

Through Jesus Christ's Precious, Pure and Holy name I pray. - Amen

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