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By Kim Ae-ran
Alfred Bessette (1845-1937) was one of those called to be a follower of Jesus. His journeys from laborer to religious brother, from doorkeeper to builder and unifier of the church drew much attention. As the man of miracles on Mount Royal in Montreal, he is now the patron saint of family caregivers in Canada.
He was born on Aug. 9, 1845, in Saint-Gregoire d'Iberville, Quebec, as the eighth of 12 children. His father, Isaac Bessette, a carpenter and lumberman, was killed by a falling tree when Alfred was 9 years old. His mother Clothilde Foisy passed away from tuberculosis two years later.
In spite of his chronic stomach pains and little education, he had a lively faith and a strong devotion to Saint Joseph. He sincerely asked St. Joseph to give him health and ability. He used to say, "How good the good Lord is! He always dotes on us!"
He worked hard on a farm and took various jobs such as apprentice shoemaker, blacksmith, tinsmith, wheelwright and baker. At age 18, he moved to work at the textile mills across Connecticut in the U.S. but he returned to his country after four years.
Through sincere prayers, he cultivated a virtuous life that caught the eye of the parish priest, Andre Provencal, who guided him to enter the Congregation of Holy Cross, founded by Basile Antoine Moreau in France in 1837. Initially, Holy Cross did not accept Alfred because of his poor health, but he appealed to a visiting archbishop of Montreal.
With the grace of God, he took the religious name Andre after his parish priest and he made his final vows on Feb. 2, 1874, at the age of 28.
Because of his frail health and lack of formal education, Brother Andre was assigned doorkeeper of Notre Dame College where he cheerfully greeted visitors and students' parents and tended to their needs. He also served as a gardener, lamp tender, nurse, barber, laundry worker and messenger.
The daily visitors soon included the sick, the suffering and the downtrodden. When they asked for healing, saying, "Brother Andre, if you want to, you can cure me," he would humbly reply, "No, not I, but St. Joseph can cure you if you put your trust in him."
It was to honor St. Joseph that Brother Andre and his friends built an oratory in 1904. He saved the money he earned from giving haircuts to students. As more people kept coming, he was assigned as caretaker of St. Joseph's Oratory in 1909.
Then, the reconstruction went on until 1967. For this visionary project, Brother Andre placed total trust in St. Joseph, saying, "It's not my work; it's St. Joseph's. Put his statue in the middle of the construction; if St. Joseph wants a roof over his head, he'll see to it." Thus, St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal was built.
Many people admired his simplicity, humility, listening, compassion, humor, hospitality and opening to the sick, the wounded and the needy. He led them to God by praying with them. Many of them were cured. About 500 crutches and wheelchairs are now displayed in the Oratory. Brother Andre was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 17, 2010.
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. Please feel free to visit her blog "A piece of sunshine" at mtorchid88.blogspot.com.
