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Saint André Bessette
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Saint André Bessette

The humble doorkeeper of Montreal who began Saint Joseph's Oratory

Rank
Saint
Kind
Religious
Life
1845 – 1937
Era
20th century
Feast
6 January
Countries
Canada
Canada

Life story

Alfred Bessette was born on 9 August 1845 at Saint-Grégoire-d'Iberville, Quebec, into a poor family; his father was a carpenter. He was orphaned before the age of twelve, was frail in health and had little schooling. He worked at various jobs, including farm labour and factory work in New England in the United States.

In 1870 he entered the Congregation of Holy Cross, taking the name André, and was assigned as doorkeeper of the Collège Notre-Dame in Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal, a post he held for about forty years. He also did odd jobs such as laundry and cleaning and looked after visitors. He had a particular devotion to Saint Joseph.

Many sick people came to ask for his prayers, and there are accounts of recoveries, although the Church does not vouch for each case. He persisted in asking for a place of devotion to Saint Joseph on Mount Royal. A small chapel was built in 1904 and was gradually enlarged into Saint Joseph's Oratory; the work was completed after his death, with the dome finished around 1967.

He died on 6 January 1937 at the age of ninety-one. Hundreds of thousands of people filed past his coffin. He was beatified in 1982, and Benedict XVI canonised him on 17 October 2010. His feast is kept on 6 January, the day of his death. The Oratory in Montreal is now one of the largest places of pilgrimage in Canada, and the heart of the brother is preserved there.

Works and witness

  • Entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1870
  • Doorkeeper of Collège Notre-Dame for about forty years
  • Built a small chapel to Saint Joseph in 1904
  • Began what became Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal
  • Canonised in 2010

Saints from the same country

Saint Marie of the Incarnation, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Saint Jean de Brébeuf and the North American Martyrs, Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys

References

  • Martyrologium Romanum
  • Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
  • Acta Apostolicae Sedis

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.