St. Bernadette Coloring Page
This St. Bernadette coloring page shows the young girl of Lourdes in her white hood and shawl, kneeling with a rosary and a candle before Mary, who stands in the rocky grotto above a wild rose bush. The PDF is free to print. Bernadette saw Mary eighteen times in 1858.
The story of St. Bernadette
In the town of Lourdes, in the mountains of France, there lived a poor family in one small, dark room. The oldest daughter was Bernadette. She was often sick, and she could not yet read or write, but she loved God and prayed her rosary.
On a cold February day in 1858, Bernadette went with her sister and a friend to gather firewood by the river. Near a rocky cave called a grotto, she heard a sound like a gust of wind. She looked up, and there in a hollow of the rock stood a beautiful young Lady dressed in white, with a blue sash and a yellow rose on each foot. Bernadette took out her rosary and began to pray, and the Lady, who carried a rosary too, smiled at her.
The Lady came back again and again, eighteen times in all. One day she asked Bernadette to dig in the ground and drink from the spring. At first there was only mud, but soon fresh, clear water began to flow. People still come to drink and wash in that water today. When Bernadette asked the Lady her name, the Lady said, "I am the Immaculate Conception." It was the Virgin Mary! We honor her as Our Lady of Lourdes.
Many people asked Bernadette questions, and some made fun of her. She always told the truth simply and stayed humble. When she grew up she became a sister at Nevers and cared for the sick. St. Bernadette died in 1879. She is a patron of the sick, and her feast is April 16.
What to color
- Her hood (capulet): white, the hood girls wore in the mountains.
- Her shawl, skirt and apron: brown, gray or dark blue, for a poor girl's clothes.
- The rosary: brown or black beads.
- The candle: white with a yellow flame, like the candles pilgrims still bring.
- Mary: a white dress and veil, a blue sash and yellow roses on her feet.
- The grotto and rose bush: gray rocks, green leaves and a sparkling blue stream.
A prayer to pray together
Bernadette once said: "Jesus alone for master, Jesus alone for riches, Jesus alone for friend." We can pray:
St. Bernadette, pray for us.
Children can add: and pray for everyone who is sick.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on her feast, April 16, or on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11.
- Pray a decade of the rosary together, the prayer Bernadette was saying when Mary came.
- Light a candle (with a grown-up) and pray for someone who is sick.
- Make a get-well card for a sick neighbor or relative.
- Talk about it: some people did not believe Bernadette, but she kept telling the truth. Why is telling the truth brave?
Read the full story: St. Bernadette Soubirous in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Bernadette?
Bernadette wore a white hood called a capulet, a dark shawl and a long skirt with an apron. Color Mary's dress and veil white, her sash blue and the roses on her feet yellow. The grotto rocks can be gray and brown.
Why does St. Bernadette hold a rosary?
Bernadette was praying the rosary when the Lady first appeared to her, and the Lady carried a rosary too. Bernadette kept her rosary close all her life.
Who is the Lady in the grotto?
She is the Virgin Mary. When Bernadette asked her name, the Lady said, 'I am the Immaculate Conception.' The Church honors her as Our Lady of Lourdes.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.