Saint Bernadette, born Marie-Bernarde Soubirous (7th Jan 1844 - 16th Apr 1979), was a shepherd girl from the town of Lourdes in southern France. Her real Occitan name is Maria Bernada Soubirous, aka Bernadeta (little Bernada). From 11th Feb to 16th Jul 1858, she reported eighteen apparitions of "a Lady." Despite initial scepticism from the Roman Catholic Church, these claims were eventually declared to be worthy of belief after a canonical investigation. After her death, Bernadette's body remained "incorruptible", and the shrine at Lourdes went on to become a major site for pilgrimage, attracting millions of Catholics each year. On 8th Dec 1933 she was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Read more at Wikipedia website.