Page "The Song of Bernadette (film)" Paragraph 6

Many, including Bernadette's Aunt Bernarde ( Blanche Yurka ), are convinced of her sincerity and stand up for her against her disbelieving parents, but Bernadette faces civil and church authorities alone.

Repeatedly questioned, she stands solidly behind her outlandish story and continues to return to the cave as the lady has asked.

She faces ridicule as the lady tells her to drink and wash at a spring that doesn't exist, but digs a hole in the ground and uses the wet sand and mud.

The water begins to flow later and exhibits miraculous healing properties.

The lady finally identifies herself as " the Immaculate Conception ".

Civil authorities try to have Bernadette declared insane, while Abbé Peyramale, the fatherly cleric who once doubted her and now becomes her staunchest ally, asks for a formal investigation to find out if Bernadette is a fraud, insane, or genuine.

The grotto is closed and the Bishop of Tarbes ( Charles Waldron ) declares that unless the Emperor orders the grotto to be opened, there will be no investigation by the church.

He says this will be a test for Bernadette's lady.

Shortly thereafter, the Emperor's infant son falls ill and, under instructions from the Empress ( Patricia Morison ), the child's nanny obtains a bottle of the water.

Arrested for violating the closure order, she appears in court, identifies herself as the Empress ' employee, and pays the fines of the other persons who attempted to enter the grotto, so that they will not have to serve time in jail.

The magistrate permits her to go and to take the bottle of water with her.

The Emperor's son drinks the water and recovers.

The Empress believes that his recovery is miraculous, but the Emperor is not sure.

The Empress upbraids him for doubting God, and at her insistence, the Emperor gives the order to reopen the grotto.

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 experienced visions and was visited by the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.