I was sorting through my recently passed mother's belongings a came across this interesting item. I have the Certificate of Authenticity, in Latin, from the Vatican. Saint Bernadette Soubirous (1844–1879): A French peasant girl who reported visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes, leading to her canonization in 1933. Her relics, primarily her incorrupt body, are venerated at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The "S. M." could stand for "Sancta Maria" (Holy Mary), aligning with her Marian visions, and "Bern." could abbreviate "Bernadette." "Sou." might then relate to "Soubirous," her family name, and "V" could indicate "Vierge" (French for Virgin, tying to Mary) or a votive designation. Relic Context: Saint Bernadette’s relics are tightly controlled by the Lourdes sanctuary, with fragments rarely distributed. However, during the 19th and early 20th centuries, small relic fragments (e.g., from her hair or clothing) were sometimes authenticated and encased in reliquaries for private devotion, especially in France. The ornate filigree and relic in your medallion could fit this period (late 19th to early 20th century), coinciding with her beatification (1925) and canonization (1933). Inscription Fit: "S. M. Bern. Sou. V" could be interpreted as "Sancta Maria, Bernadette Soubirous, Votive" or "Virgin," reflecting a dedication tied to her Lourdes apparitions. The "V" might also denote a specific relic class or sequence, though no exact match is documented.