Brother Andre

For the founder of Open doors, to see Brother Andre (missionary)

The Happy Brother Andre (born Alfred Bessette ) (August 9th 1845 - January 6th 1937) Québécois was a monk to which one allots thousands of miraculous cures.

Beginning of life

Alfred Bessette was born with Saint-Gregoire d' Iberville, in Quebec (then Canada Is), a small village located 40 kilometers at the east of Montreal. Its family came from the working class; his/her father was a Bûcheron and his/her mother raised her ten children. Alfred became orphan at twelve years, after which it tried various trades, but none offered an interesting future because of its many health issues.

When Alfred be twenty years old, it united with several Canadians who emigrated towards the the United States to work on the Moulin S of the New England. When in 1867 the news Canadian Confédération was formed, it turned over in its native land. It went to see the abbot André Provençal, priest of Saint-Césaire who sent it towards the congregation Holy-Cross in Montreal.

After a Noviciate longer than envisaged, because the congregation did not know if it would keep it or not because of its health issues, this one decided to entrust the use of gatekeeper to him to the Collège Notre-Dame on the Coast-of-Snows. It occupied this load during forty years while offering its services of odd-job man at the community.

Call to the devotion

The priest of its parish, the abbot Andre Provençal, noticed the devotion and the generosity of the young man. He decided to introduce Alfred to the Congrégation of the Holy-Cross of Montreal. In 1870, in spite of its fragile health and its restricted education, Alfred was accepted and will be henceforth known under the name of André brother, name which it chooses in the honor of the priest of Saint-Césaire.

Its great confidence in Saint Joseph inspired it to be devoted to all those which were afflicted in one way or another. Many supported that they were cured and were grateful owing to the fact that their prayers were heard. In 1904, because he wanted that holy Joseph is honoured, the André brother began construction from a small vault on the slope of the Royal Mont opposite the college.

The reputation of the André brother grows and it became known like the miracle-worker of the Royal mount. It was the target of attacks and criticisms, but it preserved the support of its church diocésaine. The cures without explanation connect that it operated made of him a popular hero

The construction of the Oratoire Saint-Joseph started in 1924, close to the vault of the Brother Andre. The money for construction of what would become the largest church apart from Rome came from the admirors of the Brother Andre from everywhere in the world.

Died and beatification

The André brother died in 1937 and from the thousands of people came to pay a last homage to him, in spite of the bad weather, with its funeral.

Its heart is preserved with the oratory. It was stolen in March 1973, then found in December 1974. It was béatifié on May 23rd, 1982 in Quebec by the Pape Jean-Paul II.

External bond

Biography of the biographical Dictionary of Canada in line

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