Saint André was born Alfred Bessette in Quebec, Canada on August 9, 1845. He suffered from chronic stomach ailments that often kept him from school and work. By the time he was twelve both of his parents had died and he began working in various farms, factories and trades.
Because of his poor health, the Congregation was reluctant to accept him. But in 1870 he entered the novitiate with a letter of recommendation from his home pastor, which stated: “I am sending you a saint.”
Brother André served for forty years as the doorkeeper of the Congregation’s college in Montreal and his hospitality often entailed spending much of the day praying with and consoling the poor and sick. Numerous healings began being reported and the number of visitors swelled. But André always told his visitors to “go to Joseph” and denied that he had anything to do with the healings, saying: “I am nothing – only a lowly instrument at the service of St. Joseph.” Andre saw the value of suffering that is united with the suffering of Christ and he taught his visitors to pray with confidence and perseverance, saying that in praying “one speaks to God as one speaks to a friend.”
With the help of his many friends, André began construction of a church in honor of St. Joseph. Completed only after André’s death, the Oratory of St. Joseph on Mount Royal in Montreal is Canada’s largest church and still welcomes over two million visitors a year.
André died on January 6, 1937 and over a million people braved a blizzard to attend his funeral. On May 23, 1982 when Venerable Pope John Paul II declared Brother André to be Blessed, he said: “a daily crowd of the sick, the afflicted, the poor of all kinds came to André. They found in his presence a welcome ear, comfort and faith in God. Do not the poor of today have as much need of such love, of such hope, of such education in prayer?"
There are many wonderful resources I am happy to direct you to, if you're interested in learning more about Saint André of Montreal, or want to see pictures and videos from the canonization.
My brothers in the Vocations Office have created a canonization web-page, and also have stories and reflections posted on their blog, and pictures from Rome in their Flickr page. The Knights of Columbus have quite a spread on Saint Andre, including a novena and a video on his life. Salt and Light Television out of Canada also has a lovely video as well as excellent essays by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB as well as our very own Fr. Drew Gawrych, CSC. Fr. Michael Wurtz, CSC was at the canonization Mass with a number of our confreres from around the world, and he'll be posting photos and reflections at his blog. From South Bend, Today's Catholic has an article featuring some of our priests and colleagues in ministry - and from Portland, comes Fr. Ron Raab, CSC's webpage on Saint Andre, as well as an article in the Catholic Sentinel, and a letter from Archbishop John Vlazny.
I'm also happy to share the section of our Holy Father's homily for the canonization Mass that refers to Saint André:
Brother André Bessette, born in Quebec, in Canada, and a religious of the Congregation of Holy Cross, knew suffering and poverty very early in life. This led him to turn to God for prayer and an intense interior life. Doorman at the Notre Dame College in Montreal, he showed boundless charity and did everything possible to soothe the despair of those who confided in him. With little instruction, he nevertheless understood what was essential to his faith. For him, to believe meant to submit freely and lovingly to Divine Will. Everything existed through the mystery of Jesus, he lived the beatitude of the pure of heart, that of personal rectitude. It is thanks to this simplicity, he showed many God. He had the Saint Joseph Oratory of Mont Royal built, where he was the faithful guardian until his death in 1937. There, he was the witness of many healings and conversions. “Do not try to have your trials taken away from you”, he said, “rather, ask for the grace to endure them well”. For him, everything spoke of God and His presence. May we, following his example, search for God with simplicity to discover Him always present in the core of our lives! May the example of Brother André inspire Canadian Christian life!This morning, before departing South Bend (more on my trip later) I ducked into the Saint André Chapel at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus at Notre Dame. It was so wonderful to pray there this morning, sharing in the joy of my brothers and sisters in Holy Cross throughout the world. Later in the day, it was particularly special to be able to say for the first time the name of St. André of Montreal in the Eucharistic Prayer of Mass.
Please join me in thanking God for giving us André Bessette as an intercessor in heaven and as a guide here on earth of obedience, prayer, and compassionate service to the poor. St. André Bessette of Montreal, pray for us!
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