St. Bernadette and Lourdes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Soubirous

Appropriately for St. Bernadette, the surname Soubirous means someone who is humble. She was the oldest of her family, which had nine children. Her father was a miller and her mother did laundry. They were a poor family.

Answer: France

Lourdes is in the south of France. It is in the region known as Occitanie. Lourdes is now a large town serviced by the nearby airport near the town of Tarbes. Millions of pilgrims now come to Lourdes every year from all around the world. As a result, Lourdes is now a busy town, with many hotels and shops to service the pilgrims.

Answer: 14th February 1858

The first vision happened on the 11th of February, which is now the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is now also dedicated as World Day of the Sick. It is a major day in Lourdes and is also celebrated throughout the Catholic Church.

Answer: An old rock

The grotto is at a rocky location, almost like a cave. When Bernadette saw the first vision, she was with one of her sisters and a friend, collecting firewood.

Answer: Gave

The Gave, also known as the Gave de Pau, winds its way through the town of Lourdes and passes the famous grotto. It also flows through the city of Pau. It flows into the Gave réunis and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer: Wearing a white veil and a white gown with a blue sash

She is also usually shown with her hands joined together, a large set of rosary beads hanging from her arm and a crown of stars over her head. A statue stands within the grotto, high on a ledge.

Answer: The Immaculate Conception

During his questioning of St. Bernadette her priest asked her who she was seeing. When she told him that the lady said she was the Immaculate Conception, he believed the apparitions were true. The Immaculate Conception was something that had only been declared by the church in 1854 and would not have been something a child would have known about.

Answer: Pyrenees

Lourdes lies at the foot of the Pyrenees. It is very picturesque. Visitors to Lourdes often go into the mountains for day trips. Gavarnie is one popular spot. Sometimes people will cross the border into Spain. The mountains form the border between France and Spain.

Answer: Pope Pius X

The Basilica was completed in 1958 for the centenary of the apparitions. It was consecrated by Cardinal Angelo Roncalli, who became Pope John XXIII later that year.

Answer: Nevers

St. Bernadette died at the age of 35 in a convent in Nevers. She was a nun. About 30 years after she died, her body was exhumed and was found to be in perfect condition. She can still be seen in a glass coffin in Nevers.