St. Bernadette Soubirous: 1844-1879 (Paperback)

~ Francois Trochu (Author) "ON Tuesday, January 9th, 1844, at St Peter's Church, Lourdes, in the Bigorre, the Dean himself, Abbe Dominique Forgue, was baptising a baby girl, the..." (more)
Key Phrases: rural constable, miraculous spring, little shepherdess, Sister Marie-Bernard, Blessed Virgin, Our Lady (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

By far the best book on St. Bernadette and Lourdes. Beautifully illustrated with 69 photographs, including lovely photos of St. Bernadette's incorrupt body (she died in 1879). Our Lady told her, ""I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the next."" St. Bernadette will steal your heart! 480 pgs, PB

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: TAN Books and Publishers; illustrated edition edition (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895552531
• ISBN-13: 978-0895552532
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #379,662 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saint Bernadette Soubirous is a MUST read and MUST have, February 27, 2000

By	Vonda Tedford Keon (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

Finally after many years I have had the wonderful fortune of spending time with the Blessed St. Bernadette. This 'ignorant' miller's daughter suffered so much in the flesh and was so persecuted at first for her strong faith by the older more educated people who just didn't understand that the reason the Blessed Mother would appear to her, a mere uneducated child, was because Mary herself was a pure simple girl also. To read about Bernadette is to live and walk in her path of holiness. This is by far the best account I have found of her life and the events that happened at Lourdes. This book is truly a blessing for those that believe in the communion of saints. May we all find inspiration in the life of Bernadette to lead a life of prayer and penance, penance, penance.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and engaging, March 8, 2002

By	Elizabeth G. Melillo "gloriana" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The problem with being a noted visionary is that one may be so associated with the related devotion that little of one's own "true life" story is explored. Trochu's work is a treat for those who wish to know the true Bernadette - not merely the holy card image.

Trochu's biography is extensive, engaging, and honest. He lets the reader see Bernadette's genuine faith and devotion (and struggles, with community and hierarchy), without descending into hagiography. It is a fascinating, very "fleshed out" picture, dispelling myths (such as the "happy shepherdess"), and giving one a thorough picture of Bernadette's strong, simple personality, tenacity, and family and religious life.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thorough but more sentimental than objective, January 10, 2003

By	"troytron" (Charlotte, North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This was a fine work written by an obviously devoted priest about the life of the enigmatic Bernadette. He covers all of the bases, from birth to beatification, but tends to downplay the realism of her family's moral falures and flaws. The generally-held notion that Bernadette's parents were a bit on the drunken-but-lovable side does not detract from Bernadette's grace and bearing. In fact, for me, it makes Bernadette and her experience shine ever the more brightly. But, this book was written long ago, when unsavory realities were far more "brushed under the table" than they are in this day, even in biographies. What saves the book from being a devotional piece is the attention to detail and loads of great quotes and information. The book is almost worth it just for the photos of Bernadette alone. I don't believe you can judge a person by their appearance, for the good or for the bad, but if Bernadette Soubirous' face doesn't transmit an underlying, supernatural graciousness, then no face on this earth ever has done so. All in all, a fine "life's work" that this good priest should now be proud of...in heaven with his beloved Bernadette.