When did Andre Bessette become a saint?
February 19, 2010Brother Andre was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982, and confirmed as a recognized saint by Pope Benedict XVI on February 19, 2010. A frail, sometimes prickly, exceedingly holy, always humble man, Andre Bessette was born in Quebec on August 9, 1845 and died at the age of 91 on January 6, 1937.
How did St Andre Bessette become a saint?
St. Andre is commemorated in most of the world by an optional memorial on January 6. His memorial is celebrated in Canada on January 7. On December 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI promulgated a decree recognizing a second miracle at Blessed André's intercession, and on October 17, 2010, formally declared sainthood for him.
How did St Andre Bessette serve God?
The miracle cited in support of his beatification was the healing in 1958 of Giuseppe Carlo Audino, who suffered from cancer. On December 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI recognized a second miracle at Blessed André's intercession, and on October 17, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI formally declared sainthood for Blessed André.
What miracles did St Andre Bessette perform?
André's first Vatican-confirmed miracle was the healing in 1958 of a Quebec man, Giuseppe Carlo Audino, who suffered from cancer. He prayed to André and the cancer disappeared. This miracle was cited in André's beatification by John Paul II in 1982.Oct 14, 2010
Are there any Canadian saints?
According to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, only a select few Canadians have been honoured as Saints. Tekakwitha will join St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, St. Marguerite d'Youville and Saint Brother Andre, along with the North American martyrs who have been honoured by the Vatican.Oct 20, 2012
Where is Brother André heart?
Brother Andre's heart was actually stolen in 1973 before it was recovered in Dec. 1974 in a south Montreal basement based on a tip to police. There is now a security system in place for the reliquary containing the heart.Feb 19, 2010
What was saint Brother André known for?
Despite his reputation as a faith healer, Brother André's primary concern was to promote the worship of the suffering Christ through the patronage of St Joseph.Jan 10, 2011
Who is the patron saint of Canada?
Joseph. St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, is a popular patron saint for many causes and places. He was chosen as the patron saint of Canada by the first Recollect Franciscan missionaries in 1624.Jul 3, 2019
Is there a saint Andres?
St. Andrew, also called Saint Andrew the Apostle, (died 60/70 ce, Patras, Achaia [Greece]; feast day November 30), one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and the brother of St. Peter.
Where was André Bessette born?
Andre Bessette was born on August 9 1845 in Mont-Saint-Gregorie, Quebec as Alfred Bessette as the eighth child in a family of twelve children. As an infant he was so frail he was baptized conditionally as an emergency ritual. His father, Isaac Bessette, lived as a carpenter and a lumberman and his mother, Clothilde Foisy Bessette played the role in educating the children of the family. Unfortunately for Alfred, his father passed away in a logging accident when he was nine and was orphaned when her mother passed away three years later of tuberculosis.
Where is the heart of the sailor?
His remains are in the Saint Joseph’s Oratory and his heart is preserved in a reliquary in the Oratory in Montreal, Canada. They were once stolen in March 1973 but recovered in December 1974 by a criminal lawyer with the name Frank Shoofey.
What did Frère André do in his life?
As he advanced in years, this habit never waned. During the daytime, which he typically spent cleaning and doing other chores, Frère André received many visitors. At night he frequently visited hospitals, oftentimes returning with crutches to add to the growing collection in the Oratory. After such a day, he would spend much of the night in prayer. One of his intimates said about this, “Frequently, after his sick calls, he invited me to sleep in his cell over the primitive chapel. More than once I struggled against sleep in order to watch him. Towards morning I fell asleep while he remained in prayer. When I awoke, about five o’clock, I often noticed his bed had not been touched.”
What does Frère André mean by "It is not strange at all"?
Laughing, Frère André told his confrere, “It is not strange at all; it simply means that Saint Joseph wants to be honored on the mountain.”. Certainly Brother André wanted Saint Joseph honored on the mountain. In 1890, he took a young student with him on one of his regular Thursday meditation walks.
What was the oratory of Saint Joseph?
The Oratory of Saint Joseph. In the midst of all of the excitement, the brother’s heart became fixed on one holy ambition: the erection in Montreal of a shrine to Saint Joseph. Brother André was not the first to conceive such an idea.
What was Brother André's first assignment?
His first assignment was as porter of the College of Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur in Côte-des-Neiges, the same college where he spent much of his novitiate. This was the position he held for nearly forty years. As is common in the lives of all of the saints — and, indeed, in the lives of all men — there was never a time when he was without crosses, some of them serious. His superior at the College, Father Louage, was not particularly impressed by Brother André and oftentimes disciplined him in what seemed to be an unfair manner. Because of this, Brother André was given the name “the lightning rod of the college” by the other religious, who said, “He receives the bolts of Father Louage.” In all of this, the pious religious persevered without the slightest protest, wishing to unite his sufferings to Christ’s instead of wasting them by complaining.
How tall is Mount Royal?
It is three hundred and sixty-one feet high, taller than either Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York or the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
Where did Alfred Bessette die?
Alfred did die at the College of Notre Dame. When a priest stood over him and pronounced, “Alfred Bessette, henceforth thy name will be Brother André,” Alfred Bessette died, cloaked in the black pall of the religious habit, and Brother André, a religious of the of the Holy Cross Congregation was born.
Where did Brother André die?
Biographers have assumed that, since Brother André actually died in a hospital in Saint Laurent and not the College of Notre Dame, he misinterpreted his dream.
Where did Bessette live?
Humble Beginnings. Bessette spent his childhood southeast of Montréal, and was orphaned at the age of 12. He worked in the textile mills of New England, before taking his vows as a lay brother of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, in 1870. He adopted the religious name Brother André.
When was Saint André canonized?
On 19 December 2009, Pope Benedict XVI approved that the second miracle was a result of the intercession of Brother André. On 17 October 2010, André was canonized, making Saint André the first male Catholic saint born in Canada.
When was Saint Joseph's Oratory built?
Some years later the church hierarchy became involved. A basilica, still Montréal's most imposing landmark, was constructed 1924-55. The church then organized pilgrimages, and Saint Joseph's Oratory became the liturgical centre for the Catholic trade union movement of Québec.
Who was the first person to be credited with two miracles?
The first attributed to André was the case of New York businessman Joseph Audino in 1958, who said he had recovered from terminal cancer after asking for André's spiritual guidance.
Who was André's patron?
Tens of thousands claimed to have been healed by André — though he insisted the apparently miraculous healings were not his work but that of his patron, St Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary.
Why was Brother Andrew called Brother Greaser?
Joseph-Albin Charette, began to slander Brother Andrew as a fraud, calling him “Brother Greaser” because of the St. Joseph oil Brother Andrew applied on the sick while he was praying with them.
What did the Provincial summon Brother Andrew to ask for?
The Provincial summoned Brother Andrew to ask for his opinion on the matter. The ageing Brother Andrew had only a few words for the Assembly: ‘’This is not my work, it is the work of Saint Joseph. Put one of his statues in the middle of the building. If he wants a roof over his head, he’ll take care of it.’’.
What were the exhortations of Saint Joseph?
His exhortations were always the same: to make a novena to Saint Joseph and to rub with oil or a medal of the saint. For him, these were truly ‘’acts of love and faith, of confidence and humility.’’. He encouraged people to see a doctor for treatment.
What does Brother Andrew mean by heaven?
His views on death as life’s ultimate fulfilment were often expressed thus: “You know it is permitted to desire death if one’s unique goal is to go toward God. When I die, I will go to heaven, I will be much closer to God than I am now; I will have more power to help you.”
How many people could the crypt hold?
In 1917, a new Crypt-Church was inaugurated. This crypt was able to hold at least a thousand people: but, this was only the starting point of an even greater endeavour.
Why did Saint Joseph build the first chapel?
He built the first chapel with the help of friends and with the money he earned giving haircuts to the students of the college, he had the certitude that Saint Joseph wanted to have a place on the mountain: thus, he spent his whole life preparing a beautiful shrine worthy of his friend.
What did Alfred try to do?
The Labourer. In spite of his physical weakness, Alfred tried to make a living. He travelled from job to job as an apprentice and was easily exploited by those stronger than himself. For a time, he worked on construction projects, later as a farm boy, a tinsmith, a blacksmith, a baker, a shoemaker and a coachman.
More information
Alfred Bessette was born in Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Quebec (then Canada East), a small town situated 40 kilometers south-east of Montreal. He was so frail when he was born that the curé baptized him on an emergency basis and then conditionally the following day.
Geographical origins
The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived.
