Father Pomian was the first priest in whom Bernadette confided. She went to meet him on 13th February 1858 to tell him what she had seen at the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes. It was on that same day that Bernadette went to confession for the first time in her life. He believed in Bernadette’s story very early on, because the first sign that Bernadette mentioned, the wind, made him think of the wind at Pentecost. He then asked Bernadette for permission to go and speak to the priest, Father Peyramale, about it.
130th anniversary of the death of Father Pomian
This Saturday, 15th July, during the 11:15 a.m. mass at the Rosary Basilica, the “chapelains” of Lourdes will be paying tribute to Father Pomian on this 130th anniversary of his departure for the Lord. During this tribute mass, 5 “chapelains” will receive the “chapelain’s” cross.
Bernadette's other encounters with Father Pomian
After her first meeting with Father Pomian on 13th February 1858, Bernadette returned to him on 2nd March 1858 to bring him the message, “Go and tell the priests to build a chapel here and that people come in procession.” He then directed Bernadette to Father Peyramale.
He also prepared Bernadette to receive her long-awaited First Holy Communion in the chapel of the hospice on 3rd June 1858 and admitted her to the parish society of the children of Mary.
When Bernadette was in Nevers, he kept in touch with her and came to visit her twice: 29th July 1875 to be present while his niece, Sister Mathilde Pomian made her vows and 15th September 1876 to arrange the construction of the Lourdes orphanage.
Bernadette said of him, “He is a father for our sisters in Lourdes.”
Who was Father Pomian?
Bertrand-Marie Pomian was born in Aveux (90 km from Lourdes), on 27th September 1822. He was ordained a priest on 19th December 1846, appointed vicar of Castelnau-Magnoac in 1847, then of Ossun in 1848 and finally of Lourdes from 1st November 1851.
He became chaplain of the Hospice and Prison in Lourdes on 25th April 1857. Honorary canon of the cathedral of Tarbes, he was also director of the orphanage of Mary Immaculate
He was not very talkative, formidable and cold, but very sensitive and a very good musician.
When Émile Zola passed through Lourdes, he had wanted to meet him. Father Pomian refused, replying, “Tell Mr. Zola that I would not be able to teach him anything more than what has been written; for the rest, look to the confessor and this one is not speaking.”
The nuns who were with him related his last moments:
On 15th July, when he was ill, lying in the hospice, he said to the nuns, “Can you not see this Madonna who is at the foot of my bed?” they answered negatively and he said to them, “Oh! She’s fine there though.” Then, hearing the ringing of the Angelus, he recited it and said to the nuns, “Let us now recite the confiteor to ask forgiveness from God for my faults. And now let’s say the Salve Regina again.” At the end of this prayer, he exclaimed, “Let us ascend to heaven! Let us ascend to heaven!” and he died. He was 71 years old..
Father Pomian is buried in the Égalite cemetery in Lourdes.
Notes taken from the archives of the Sanctuary by Nicolas Dargegen
