First Lourdes apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous (1858)

On 11 February 1858, fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous experienced her first vision at the grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes. While gathering firewood, she reported seeing a 'young lady' who later identified herself as the 'Immaculate Conception'. This event marked the beginning of a series of apparitions that would eventually be recognized as Marian visions.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Bernadette Soubirous, a miller's daughter from Lourdes, was fourteen years old at the time of the first vision. Her family's financial status had declined significantly, forcing them to live in a one-room basement known as 'le cachot'. This impoverished context shaped the social environment surrounding the initial reports of the apparition.

Initial Report. Following the first vision, Bernadette told her mother that a 'Lady' had spoken to her in the cave of Massabielle. The location was approximately 1.5 kilometers from the town center. The entity described by Bernadette was initially distinct from standard Marian iconography, though descriptions later evolved to fit familiar religious imagery.

People involved

Sources

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