BROTHER OF THE HEART
Young Alfred Bessette’s devotion to St. Joseph set him upon a miraculous quest
Discovering the story behind Montreal’s beloved Brother André and his miraculous quest.
Brother André was born Alfred Bessette on August 9, 1845, in Saint-grégoire, Que. For 40 years, he was the doorman at Collège Notre-dame on Queen Mary Road, situated at the bottom of the northern flank of Mount Royal in the heart of Montreal. Alfred was a short man with a big dream—one he could visualize by simply gazing across the street from the college where he worked.
Alfred’s dream was to build an oratory in honour of Saint Joseph, who had been his spiritual friend since early childhood, perhaps because of a connection he saw between Saint Joseph and his own father, Isaac—both were honest, hard-working carpenters who cared for others.
Alfred was the eighth of 12 children, frail and often in poor health. When he was ten years old, his father died in a forestry accident and the family had to be dismantled. Alfred and his mother moved to Saint-césaire, Que., where her sister lived. When Alfred’s mom died a few years later, “Auntie Marie and Uncle Timothée” became his adoptive parents, leading to his lifelong affection for them. Alfred always had a mind of his own, and, although he could be gru at times, throughout his life he made helping others his priority.
Even while growing up, Alfred wanted to become a priest. As a young man, he realized his ill health and lack of education would probably not allow it. A rural boy at heart,
he worked mainly as a farm labourer. Like many others, he went to the States to take advantage of “industrial boom” job openings, but returned home in 1867, disillusioned by the experience.
The religious “calling” had never left him, and it was the parish priest in Saint-césaire, Father André Provençal, who suggested he consider becoming a religious brother. On December 27, 1870, after a period of study at Collège de Saint-laurent, he was accepted into the religious order of Holy Cross Congregation and young Alfred Bessette became…brother André.
FAMILY TREASURES
Like many others, my grandmother Cordelia had a very strong faith in Brother André’s spiritual power and association with St. Joseph, the patron saint of families and working people. Cordelia and her family had more than one personal encounter with Brother André, including one initiated by Cordelia herself. Her husband Henri was a respected farmer and entrepreneur who suered from intense migraines caused by stress. During one very bad episode, Cordelia asked him, “Henri, why don’t we go to the Oratory and ask Brother André if he could help you?” When Henri’s turn to step forward arrived, Brother André put his hands on Henri’s head, while asking the help of Saint Joseph to ease Henri’s pain. And that was that: Henri’s migraines ended there and then. The countless letters of thanks, and abandoned crutches, canes and wheelchairs, that are on display at the Oratory today, prove that Henri and Cordelia were far from alone in their belief in Brother André and St. Joseph. In my grandmother’s treasure chest, I later discovered many items related to Brother André and the Oratory. Fundraising campaigns throughout Quebec, Canada and the
U.S. helped finance the decades-long realization of Brother André’s dream. Cordelia’s “treasures” call to mind some local initiatives and activities that took place. For instance, kids would save up their coins in small yellow-and-mauve “Brother André” piggy banks. Instead of buying chewing gum, they’d help Brother André build the Oratory. Cordelia’s chest also held stamps, iconic images, medallions, prayer booklets and old postcards. The pièce de résistance though was a signed certificate declaring that Grandmother Cordelia had purchased her own stone to be used in the building of the Oratory.
During his lifetime (1845-1937), Brother André, always discreet even if overly direct at times, grew in stature in the eyes of his fellowmen as his good works, healing ways and devotion to St. Joseph became widely known. In spite of himself, he became an international celebrity with followers and supporters throughout North America as well as in Europe, Africa and South America. The memories stored in Cordelia’s treasure chest are just one reminder of how many lives Brother André has touched.
FROM VISION TO REALITY
It was Brother André’s superior at the Holy Cross Congregation who assigned him to work at Collège Notre-dame after his studies, where his main duty was that of doorman, welcoming every visitor. He also served as sacristan, laundry worker and messenger. In his spare time, Brother André cut hair for the college boarders, who typically offered him a small sum in return—every head trimmed allowed him to tuck away some money towards realizing his dream.
He had been given a small room near the main entrance as living quarters, where he is said to have spent much of his spare time on his knees, facing Mount Royal across the street with a small statue of Saint Joseph set on the windowsill before him. He visualized a small chapel dedicated to St. Joseph in the middle of the slope, where anybody would be welcome to rest, reflect and pray, surrounded by the trees and birds and natural beauty of the Mountain. As he
went about his work and contemplations, he would visit and pray with any sick or needful person he encountered, often rubbing oil taken from a lamp burning in the college chapel onto their hands as they spoke. Brother André was a good listener and the more he listened, the more he was convinced of the necessity to create a special place where people could pray and meditate.
When Brother André had saved up $200, he knocked at the door of his superior, asking for permission to build a modest wooden chapel on the Mountain, where people could share in the blessings of St. Joseph. By this time, word of Brother André and his dream to build this very chapel had spread throughout the community and beyond. Approval was granted and through the e orts of the Holy Cross Congregation, Brother André and his followers, and, according to Brother André himself, timely “intercessions” initiated by St. Joseph, the land became available for purchase and construction began. Brother André took pride in being part of the work crew, hauling stone in a wheelbarrow in spite of his frailty, and otherwise helping his colleague Brother Abundius, a very handy man, construct the small chapel made of spruce, measuring 16 feet by 12 feet, with two large doors on the facade. By October 1904 Brother André’s dream was being realized—on the very spot he had “seen” the chapel in honour of St. Joseph taking shape several years previously.
By 1910, an average of 500 people a day, 900 on Sundays, would peacefully walk up the Mountain to visit with Brother André or seek solace in the chapel and its surroundings. As word of Brother André’s healing powers spread, so too did a groundswell of support for his quest to erect the domed
shrine to St. Joseph that graces the Montreal skyline today. Although the small man with big dreams did not live to see the culmination of his life’s work, St. Joseph’s Oratory is a beacon of hope to millions of pilgrims around the world. It is also the final resting place of Saint Brother André of Montreal, canonized ten years ago this October. n