Bernard, Claude

Bernard, Claude (also called Le Pauvre Pretre and Le Pere Bernard), was born of a noble family of Dijon in 1588. He studied law and theology. Originally of licentious frivolity, he suddenly became converted, and devoted himself entirely to the service of the sick and poor. He is said to have sucked out ulcers in the hospitals, etc. He died in 1641. He had not been dead four weeks before a hundred miracles had been counted which were said to have been performed by him in Paris, and afterwards they became innumerable. See Gieseler, Ecclesiastical History, v5 1.78; Lichtenbetger,

Encyclopedie des Sciences Religieuses, s.v.; Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s.v. (B. P.)