Editing The Song of Bernadette (film) (section)

== Plot ==
In 1858, 14-year-old [[Bernadette Soubirous]] lives in poverty with her family in [[Lourdes]], France. She is shamed by her Catholic school teacher, [[Marie Therese Vauzou|Sister Vauzou]], for falling behind in her studies because of her [[asthma]]. That afternoon, while fetching firewood with her sister Marie and a friend, Bernadette waits for them in the [[Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes#History|Massabielle grotto]]. Distracted by a strange breeze and a change in the light, Bernadette sees a beautiful lady clad in white, standing on a rock niche. Bernadette tells her companions what she saw, and they promise not to tell anyone else. However, Marie tells their mother when they return home, and the story soon spreads all over Lourdes.

Many, including Bernadette's Aunt Bernarde, are convinced of her sincerity, standing up for her against her disbelieving parents. Bernadette continues to repeatedly visit the grotto as requested by the lady, accompanied by other citizens of Lourdes. While [[Abbé]] [[Dominique Peyramale]] refuses to get involved, civil authorities threateningly interrogate Bernadette, but she confounds them with her simplicity and stands behind her story. On one visit, the lady asks Bernadette to drink and wash at a seemingly nonexistent spring. Bernadette obediently digs a hole in the ground and smears her face with dirt. Though she is initially ridiculed, water later begins to flow, which exhibits miraculous healing properties; ailing people soon begin flocking to Lourdes.

On Bernadette’s last visit to the grotto, the lady finally identifies herself as the "[[Immaculate Conception]]." When civil authorities try to have Bernadette declared insane, Peyramale, who once doubted her, now becomes her staunchest ally and asks for a formal church investigation to verify if Bernadette is a fraud, insane, or genuine.

The grotto is fenced off, and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tarbes-et-Lourdes|Bishop of Tarbes]] declares that unless [[Napoleon III|the Emperor]] orders the grotto to open, there will be no investigation. When The Emperor’s [[Louis Napoléon, Prince Imperial|infant son]] is cured of his illness by water from Lourdes, [[Eugénie de Montijo|the Empress]] demands that the grotto be reopened. The Bishop of Tarbes then directs the commission to convene. The investigation takes many years, and Bernadette is questioned again and again, but the commission eventually determines that Bernadette truly experienced the visions and was visited by the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]].

Believing it unsuitable for her to live an ordinary life, Peyramale persuades Bernadette to join the [[Sisters of Charity of Nevers]]. Bernadette undergoes rigorous spiritual training and works hard at the convent but is also subjected to emotional abuse from Sister Vauzou, now mistress of novices at the convent. Vauzou tells Bernadette that doubt consumes her, and that she cannot believe that Bernadette, who has never suffered, would be chosen by God when she has spent her life suffering in his service. 
 
Though Bernadette agrees that she has not suffered, she then reveals a tumor hidden under the skirt of her habit, much to Vauzou’s horror. The doctor diagnoses [[tuberculosis]] of the bone; the condition causes unspeakable pain, yet Bernadette had never mentioned it. Vauzou, realizing her error, prays for forgiveness and vows to serve Bernadette for the rest of her life. Despite the severity of her illness, Bernadette refuses to partake of the grotto’s healing waters.

On her deathbed, Bernadette sends for Peyramale and confesses her feelings of unworthiness while sorrowfully maintaining that she may never see the lady again. However, the lady appears in the room, smiles, and gestures to Bernadette warmly. Bernadette joyfully cries out to the apparition before finally dying. Upon her death, Peyramale remarks, "You are now in Heaven and on earth. Your life begins, O Bernadette."