Inspired by love and faith, Frances Parkinson Keyes has literally trodden in the footsteps of a very humble person and followed her emergence in the eyes of the world from lowly shepherdess to Sister, from Sister to Saint. Steeped in the atmosphere of the region where Bernadette lived, aided by accounts of people who knew Bernadette, Mrs. Keyes' story of the Saint is a human picture of her life and times, and a revelation of the meaning of her Sainthood.

Lourdes, today, is a famous city which attracts pilgrims from all over the world. And at Nevers, intact in her precious and symbolic shrine, the mortal remains of Saint Bernadette lie in state. Yet, not so long ago, Lourdes was a little town, and there, poor and unlearned, dwelt the shepherdess, Bernadette Soubirous.

Thousands have been healed and comforted at St. Bernadette's shrine, but here is the revelation of a yet higher service that she performed. As Pope Pius X expressed it: "she brought the world into the closest possible touch with the mystery of Christ the Savior, that is the great thing she did, the greatest thing that anyone can do." And from every detail of Bernadette‘s life as Mrs. Keyes tells it emerges this truth. She had a self-respect which gave her the strength to be tidy in a hovel, to refuse alms in hunger, to have sound sense without great learning. She had cheerfulness and industry, composure in a world of doubt and chaos. She had a rare gift for distinguishing the material from the spiritual which swept away the obstacles of non-essentials in the course of her own search for Christ and left an open road behind her. She had the rare quality of true Christian resignation which gave grace and distinction to her docility in submission. She wore the shining garment of truth which the world has caught and held in reflected glory, and she set the example of her short and simple prayers whatever the condition that surrounded her life may have been.

So, through this unique and intimate story many will be brought closer to Christ the Savior for Bernadette of Lourdes has shown the world the way to find Him and to know Him.

Mrs. Keyes' life of Saint Therese of Liseux, THERESE, SAINT OF A LITTLE WAY which was originally published as WRITTEN IN HEAVEN, proved the need for revised modern editions of Mrs. Keyes' religious works. It was made a selection of the Catholic Literary Foundation and the Catholic Library Guild and achieved an impressive sale among Mrs. Keyes' enormous audience. BERNADETTE OF LOURDES, originally published under the title of THE SUBLIME SHEPERDESS, is presented as a companion volume to THERESE, with a new Prologue, additional illustrations and some changes in the text in a beautiful new edition, suited to Mrs. Keyes' ever-increasing success in literature and to her own great spiritual development.

From the new edition Bernadette of Lourdes: Shepherdess, Sister and Saint