Fr. Richard Simon’s storytelling about St. André Bessette (or Brother André, as many knew him) is like grabbing a coffee with an old friend who’s a total saint expert. This episode is a cozy exploration into the life of an unlikely saint from Quebec, who was more connected to everyday people than to the grand stuff you’d imagine for a saint. Here’s the scoop:
From Frail Boy to “Cousin” Saint
Brother André was born Alfred Bessette and came from a big family in Quebec. He was a frail baby baptized just in case he didn’t make it. Life hit hard: he lost his dad to a lumber accident at age nine and his mom to tuberculosis when he was twelve. With no parents, he was taken in by a family who taught him his faith and, importantly, a devotion to St. Joseph.
No Saintly Resume Required 🛠️
Alfred tried it all: farmhand, tinsmith, cobbler, you name it. His health wasn’t exactly “get the job done” material. Despite his lack of formal education, he felt a religious calling and joined the Congregation of the Holy Cross, where he was just… the doorman. Not exactly glamorous, right? But that’s where the miracles started.
Go to Joseph
He’d tell sick people to “Go to Joseph!” and anointed them with oil from the lamps near St. Joseph’s altar. People were miraculously healed! Crowds started swarming to see him, so much so that it became a “problem” for his superiors who worried about reputation. Eventually, André’s ministry got so big they let him start building St. Joseph’s Oratory, which is now a famous spot in Montreal.
A Saint for the People 🥖
French Canadians still love Brother André. Fr. Simon says that even if Quebec’s faith has waned, the Québécois have a soft spot for their healer. A million people paid their respects at his funeral!
Father Simon’s love for André is personal, too: he shares that his own sister-in-law was actually a distant cousin of André’s. So awesome!!
If there’s one takeaway from this podcast episode, it’s that holiness isn’t about impressing the world. It’s about loving people right where you are, even if that’s at the door.
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