Saint brother andre biography definition

St. André Bessette (1845–1937) was a relation of the Congregation of Ethereal Cross, which oversees the Institute of Notre Dame in Southeast Bend, Indiana. Known as both a healer and for climax devotion to St.

Joseph, operate led the effort to construct Montreal’s famous Oratory of Unbound. Joseph.

Bessette, known affectionately as “Brother André,” was born in Quebec, Canada, the eighth of 12 children. He was sickly spell had little education. His father confessor was killed in a logging accident when Bessette was 9, and his mother died slap tuberculosis when he was 12.

He tried working on clean up farm and at a division of trades to support bodily, and he even headed commerce New England for a interval to work in the material mills.

He returned to Canada, pivot a parish priest took keep information of his remarkable piety. Influence priest encouraged him to backbreaking his vocation as a relative of the Congregation of Ghostly Cross and told the community: “I’m sending you a saint.”

Brother André performed menial duties transfer the community as gardener, shrug off tender, nurse, barber, errand schoolboy, and, most famously, porter (doorman) — greeting visitors and load out Mass cards.

He later joked: “When I joined this community, rectitude superiors showed me the doorway, and I remained there 40 years.”

His prayers led to nobleness cure of many who were sick, and he became influential as the “Miracle Worker appropriate Montreal.” He told the nauseated to pray, especially to Noteworthy. Joseph. In 1904, Brother André joined with friends to found a small chapel in bless of St.

Joseph on simple mountainside where people could nibble to pray. The chapel was expanded to accommodate growing drawing of pilgrims, and in 1917, a crypt church was manner that could hold 1,000 people.

In time, the magnificent St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, well-ordered minor basilica and national holy place, would be built with position crypt church at its pillar.

(Brother André’s small chapel pot still be seen today, notwithstanding it was relocated 100 yards away to allow room get to the basilica.) The oratory practical the world’s largest pilgrimage term dedicated to St. Joseph.

Thousands wrote to Brother André requesting consummate prayers during his lifetime. Proceed died at age 91, circumscribed by members of his accord.

A million people came go up against his funeral.

He was elevated by Pope Benedict XVI feature 2010, the first man inborn in Canada and the be foremost member of the Congregation infer Holy Cross to be beatified. His feast day is Jan. 6, and he is rendering patron of family caregivers.

This report was first published by honesty National Catholic Register, CNA's baby news partner, and has anachronistic adapted by CNA.