Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is book is written in the format of a novel, but with Bernadette's actual words. This was a very satisfying hagiography, because it gave, I feel, a realistic portrait of Bernadette. Often, saints' biographies tend to make the saint out as more angelic than human.The author, for the most part, avoids this annoying habit.There are also many interesting photos, which add to the feeling of the "authenitic" Bernadette.
In sum, I would definitely reccommend this book for anyone truly interested in the life, words, and spirit of the peasant girl from Lourdes who was graced with the presence of the "the Immaculate Conception".

This huge biography contains so many of St. Bernadette's quotes from so many various sources, that the reader obtains a new perspective on the saint. She has a much more dynamic character than I had thought from reading other books about her life! The completion of the book left me with a powerful sense of spiritual friendship with St. Bernadette. It was well worth the cost of the book and the time spent.

Very interesting. Many details about Bernadette and the miracles of Lourdes included. Perfect reading for anyone who has been to the Lourdes Shrine or is thinking of making the trip to Lourdes, France. I highly recommend it.

As someone who works as a "hospitalier" at the Sanctuary of Lourdes in Southern France, I have done quite a bit of reading about Bernadette Soubirous and the events of 1858. This is probably one of the best on the subject. It gives the most detail and is clearly written.

I strongly recommend BERNADETTE SPEAKS.

This book is a MUST for any Catholic bookshelf. It's amazing in every way - it goes well with "A Holy Life". Both books bring Bernadette back to life with brilliant color.............

As I have said elsewhere, countless Catholics may think that they know about Lourdes and Saint Bernadette Soubirous. I feel sure that they do not, until they have read a full account like this one. Going to a Catholic school in 1950s, I knew about Lourdes in an outline, summary way from an early age. But I did not know nearly enough. The lessons in the story are profound, starting with a devotion to the unexaggerated, objective truth in all matters. This, in fact, was the nature of Bernadette Soubirous's witness. Apparently nobody had to instruct her in this way. She knew it innately and by the grace of God. Another lesson lies in her complete rejection of the corrupting influence of money and wealth.

Any comment on Lourdes these day would have to recognize that it is, apparently, one of the most commercialized religious shrines in the world. It began almost immediately, while Bernadette Soubirous was still living in Lourdes. She disliked it very much and was personally very much opposed to it, but was not in a position to do anything about it. Nor were other believers. Some perspective on the commercialization has always been needed. Insofar as certain people financially profit from the shrine, they do contrary to what Bernadette Soubirous herself did and advised others in her time to do. Quite a few of those others did follow her advice.

The author is careful to avoid embellishments and folklore about Bernadette, as her story stands beautifully as it is without the clutter of here-say or myth. She is one of the most silent of saints of the Catholic Church, and the book quotes her carefully, as Bernadette reveals so much of herself and her mission when she does speak. The author treats her respectfully and candidly, one reason I have purchased this book confidently for others.

As a biography, this is quite nice -- very detailed, highly readable, lots of photos. A good account of the life of St. Bernadette. From that standpoint I can certainly recommend it. But from the title and the description, I expected it to be comprised entirely of verbatim excerpts from the writings of, and interviews with, St. Bernadette herself, strung together to create a flowing narrative. I was looking for the most complete volume of the visionary's own description of the Lourdes apparitions, and of her subsequent life, in her OWN WORDS. This is anything but that. So apply caution when choosing this book.