Dungeon

As 1857 dawned, the Soubirous family found themselves caught in a downward spiral of misery and were forced to live in a single dark, squalid room, nicknamed the ‘cachot’, a former prison dungeon that had fallen into disuse since 1824. In September 1857, Bernadette was sent for five months to Bartrès to stay with her former nanny, Marie Laguës, to help with household chores and daily tasks. In January 1858, she returned to Lourdes to attend a class for the destitute run by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. On 11 February 1858, whilst gathering dead wood on the banks of the Gave near the Massabielle Grotto, she had an experience that would change her life: this became known as the Marian apparitions of Lourdes.

In early 1857, the Soubirous family fell into poverty and were forced to move into a gloomy, unsanitary room known as the ‘dungeon’, a former prison that had been disused since 1824. In September 1857, Bernadette was sent to Bartrès for five months, accompanied by her former nanny, Marie Laguës, to help with housework and daily chores. In January 1858, she returned to Lourdes to attend the class for the destitute run by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. On 11 February 1858, whilst on her way to the bank of the stream next to the Massabielle grotto to gather dead wood, she had an encounter that would change the course of her life: we are referring to the Marian apparitions at Lourdes.

At the beginning of 1857, the Soubirous family found themselves in dire poverty and were forced to move into a dark, unhealthy room nicknamed the ‘Segreta’, as it was a former prison that had been abandoned since 1824. In September 1857, Bernadette was sent to Bartrès for five months by her nanny, Marie Laguës, to help her with cleaning and daily chores. In January 1858, she returned to Lourdes to enrol at the school for the poor run by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. On 11 February 1858, whilst she was gathering firewood along the Gave, near the Massabielle grotto, she had an encounter that changed the course of her life: we are referring to the Marian apparitions at Lourdes.

In early 1857, the Soubirous family fell on hard times and were forced to move into a dark and dirty dwelling which had served as a detention centre until 1824 and was therefore also known as a ‘dungeon’ (‘cachot’). In September 1857, Bernadette was sent back to her former wet nurse, Marie Laguës, in Bartrès, where she helped out with the housework. In January 1858, she returned to Lourdes and attended the lessons given by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers to children in need. On 11 February 1858, whilst she was gathering firewood on the banks of the Gave de Pau near the Massabielle Grotto, she was to have an encounter that would change her whole life and which is known today as the Marian apparition of Lourdes.

In early 1857, the Soubirous family fell into poverty and were forced to move into a dark, unhealthy space known as the ‘cachot’, a former prison that had not been in use since 1824. In September 1857, Bernadette was sent to Bartrès for five months to stay with her former nanny, Marie Laguës, and to help with household chores and daily tasks. In January 1858, she returned to Lourdes to prepare for her First Holy Communion, which was organised by the Sisters of Charity in Nevers. On 11 February 1858, whilst gathering dead wood on the banks of the Gave near the grotto of Massabielle, she had an encounter that would change her life: the so-called Marian apparition of Lourdes.

In early 1857, the Soubirous family fell on hard times and were forced to move into a gloomy cell known as the ‘Cachot’, where conditions were unhealthy, in a former prison that had closed in 1824. In September 1857, Bernadette was sent for five months to stay with Marie Laguës, her wet nurse in Bartrès, to help with household chores and daily tasks. In January 1858, she returned to Lourdes to attend a school for the poor run by the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. On 11 February 1858, whilst gathering brushwood by the banks of a mountain stream near the Massabielle grotto, an encounter took place that changed the course of her life: the apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes.