Your Faith Journey with EWTN
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
August 9, 1845–January 6, 1937
Patron Saint of family caregivers, the sick, the marginalized, those seeking employment, and those considering religious life
St. André Bessette was a humble man of deep faith and compassionate service to the sick. His many healings through the intercession of St. Joseph earned him the title “Miracle Man of Montreal.”
St. André had a deep faith and devotion to St. Joseph, which led him to pray with the sick, invoking the saint’s intercession. Sometimes, he anointed the sick with oil from a lamp in the college chapel where he worked. St. André healed thousands, yet he remained humble, saying, “It is St. Joseph who cures. I am only his little dog.”
St. André experienced tragedy and challenges early in life. Born a frail child in 1845, he was conditionally baptized at birth for fear he might die. By age twelve, he had lost both parents and lived in poverty. His poor performance in school led to his removal, and his frail constitution disqualified him from manual labor that required physical strength beyond his capacity. Despite his challenges, St. André possessed a vibrant faith and deep devotion to St. Joseph.
In 1870, St. André presented himself to the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal. Although his poor health and limited education caused hesitation, he was accepted with the bishop’s support. He was assigned the humble role of porter (doorkeeper) at Notre-Dame College in Montreal. He assisted with other tasks, such as messenger, sacristan, and handling laundry duties, holding the position for 40 years.
St. André’s great faith and devotion to St. Joseph led him to pray with the sick, invoking the saint’s intercession. Sometimes, he anointed the sick with oil from a lamp in the college chapel. Word about his healings spread, and many people sought him out for prayer.
For many years, thousands of people came to him requesting prayers and anointing for physical healing. St. André would invite them to pray with him before a small statue of St. Joseph, and many were healed. As his reputation grew, he requested and received permission to build a small chapel on Mount Royal, which was dedicated to St. Joseph in 1904.
St. André died on January 6, 1937, in Montreal at age 91. During the week his body lay in state, more than a million people passed by to pay their respects. He was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1982 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, becoming the first saint from the Congregation of Holy Cross.
When the bishop recommended St. André to the Congregation of the Holy Cross, he spoke prophetically when he said, “I’m sending you a saint.” Estimates vary on the number of healings he assisted through the intercession of St. Joseph, but more than ten thousand healings have been attributed to St. André Bessette during his life and after his death. This documentation includes physical evidence like abandoned canes and crutches, records kept by his order from written testimonies to his superiors or to the oratory from those who experienced healings, and documented medical investigations and testimonies of two distinct miracles required by the Church to approve his canonization.
St. André saved a portion of his modest earnings and proceeds from haircuts he offered the college students at five cents each. He collected donations in a small dish set near a statue of St. Joseph on Mount Royal. Over time, he collected $200 to fund the first modest chapel in 1904. St. André had complete trust in God and his patron saint, St. Joseph. When construction on the larger oratory was paused due to a lack of funds, St. André placed a statue of St. Joseph inside the unfinished structure and said, “If he wants a roof over his head, he’ll get it.” Soon after, donations began to come in, and construction was resumed.
His body is entombed under the main chapel of Saint Joseph’s Oratory. His heart is preserved in a reliquary in the Oratory. In 1973, the heart relic was stolen, but police recovered it in December 1974. More than two million pilgrims visit Saint Joseph’s Oratory annually to venerate St. André Bessette. The oratory, conceived by St. André, is a significant pilgrimage site where many come seeking his intercession and healing.
We hope this special eBook will draw you closer to our Blessed Mother and her Son, Jesus Christ. We trust that the following pages will bring your heart under her mantle, as we share a few of the beautiful and befitting names bestowed upon the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fr. Leo Patalinghug focuses on the life and legacy of St. André Bessette, as he explores the breathtaking city of Montreal through the lens of faith, food, and pilgrimage.
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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