Saint Andre Bessette

Stored in Cargo: Saint Andre Bessette

Saint Andre Bessette
Feast Day	January 06
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Sick, afflicted, Montreal, Canada
Birthplace	St-Grégoire d'Iberville, Quebec, Canada
Death Place	St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Cause of Death	Natural causes
Primary Shrine	St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Alfred Bessette was born in 1845 in Quebec, Canada, into a large family that faced financial hardship. Orphaned by age 12, he worked various jobs with little success due to his frail health. In 1870, with his pastor's encouragement, he joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal, taking the name André. Despite his ill health, which initially led to his rejection, he was eventually accepted with the intervention of the local bishop and served as a porter at Notre-Dame College. His dedication to St. Joseph and his hospitality towards visitors and the sick became widely known, leading to numerous accounts of miraculous healings.

Brother André's devotion to St. Joseph inspired him to construct the Oratory of Saint Joseph in Montreal, starting with a small chapel that grew into a massive basilica due to donations and his personal efforts. He became known as the "Miracle Man of Montreal" for the healings attributed to his prayers. He died in 1937, and over a million people attended his funeral. He was canonized in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. His legacy continues through the Oratory, which remains a significant pilgrimage site, and he is venerated as the patron of the sick and afflicted.

Biography

Birth

Born on August 9, 1845, in St-Grégoire d'Iberville, Quebec, to a poor French-Canadian family, Alfred Bessette was one of twelve children.

Early Life

After losing both parents by the age of 12, Alfred moved from job to job, struggling due to his chronic illnesses, particularly stomach ailments.

Occupation

His primary occupation within the Congregation of Holy Cross was as a porter at Notre-Dame College, where he welcomed visitors and cared for their needs.

Vocation

Brother André's vocation was deeply spiritual, centered on prayer, hospitality, and devotion to St. Joseph, leading to his role in founding St. Joseph's Oratory.

Death

St. André Bessette died peacefully on January 6, 1937, at the Oratory he helped build, surrounded by thousands who came to pay their respects.

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: St-Grégoire d'Iberville, Quebec, Canada
• Death location: St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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