+ Our saint for today, Blessed Andre Bessette is one of the most beloved in Church history – once you get to know him! He was born in a little town in Canada near Montreal in 1845 – and before his death in 1937 he lived an extraordinarily ordinary life! He simply wanted to join the Congregation of Holy Cross and be a teaching brother. However, his health would not allow him to do what he intended to do; but God had other plans for Alfred Bessette. He would take vows as a Holy Cross Brother – but armed only with his love for God and extraordinary devotion to St. Joseph he would be assigned the job of porter (doorman) at Notre Dame College for boys in Montreal. He would live in a tiny cell near the door. He would greet visitors and guests – and would also take care of other small chores at the college – such as giving haircuts to the boys! But he would also do o so much more!
Having such great devotion to St. Joseph, Brother Andre wanted to make the saint more known and loved, and so he asked the Archbishop of Montreal if a small chapel could be built on the hill across the street from the college to honor St. Joseph. The Archbishop agreed "so long as I would not have to pay for it, and it never went into debt." Collecting nickels and dimes Andre financed the building of the first wooden chapel.
When devotion to St. Joseph did increase, and people came by the hundred to the small shrine – and miracles began to be reported – Andre approached the Archbishop again to ask if the chapel could be enlarged. And again the Archbishop agreed so long as it was fully funded by private contributions. Soon plans were made and the edifice of what we now know of as St. Joseph Oratory began to arise on that hillside.
All the while Brother Andre, while being the chief fund-raiser for the shrine – also continued his job as porter, barber – and now counselor, friend, and healer for those who would come knocking on his door at the college. But he made it very clear that any healing that was done – was done entirely through the intercession of his beloved friend, St. Joseph.
Finally after living 91 years – most of them with severe, chronic stomach pain – Brother Andre died just a few years before the completion of his beloved shrine to St. Joseph. He did live, though, to see the large statue of St. Joseph mounted on top of the copper dome. Over a million mourners paid their respects at the time of his passing. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982 and it has just been announced by Pope Benedict XVI last week that Blessed Brother Andre will be canonized in this very new year of 2010. How exciting this is for all who have devotion both to him and to St. Joseph!
The life of Brother Andre is a prime example of the communion of saints to which we all belong. The saints in heaven and on earth unite to do God's will – and even in the face of insurmountable odds accomplish great things: because it is God who is accomplishing them through human weakness.
May we this day, as friends of the saints in heaven, and one another on earth pledge ourselves to doing God's will as he would have it done, with the strength he provides, shining through our weakness – until our last breath!
In the gospel passage today we heard how at Jesus' baptism the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, and a voice from the heavens said: "You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased." No doubt Blessed, and soon the be Saint, Andre Bessette heard the same thing when he crossed over into eternal life. May we do God's will with all our might and hear the very same said to us on the day of our transition.
Blessed Brother Andre Bessette, Miracle Man of Montreal, pray for us!
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