Bernadette, an adolescent peasant girl in 1858 France, has a vision of "a beautiful lady" in the city garbage. She never claims it to be anything other, but the town thinks it's the virgin Mary. The girl's followers are suppressed by pretentious government officials, who believe she is insane, and the church refuses to be involved in the situation. However, as Bernadette's fame grows, the phenomenon sweeps the town, transforming everyone's life.