Bernadette was firstborn of nine children from a poor family. When she was 14 years-old, between February 11 and July 16 1858 (feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel), she experienced visions of a young woman, unseen by anyone else. Eventually, the woman revealed that she was "the Immaculate Conception."

Bernadette suffered a great deal from ill-health from childhood and to avoid constant public curiousity, she joined a religious order.

She died a painful death of tuberculosis.