Statue of Brother André outside St. Joseph's Oratory

Brother André (French:Frère André, born Alfred Bessette) (1845 – January 6, 1937) was a Canadian religious figure, credited with thousands of supposed miraculous healings. 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Canada is a sovereign state in northern North America, the northern-most country in the world, and the second largest in total area. ... For the U.S. hockey teams victory in the 1980 Winter Olympics, see Miracle on Ice, or Miracle (movie) According to many religions, a miracle is an intervention by God in the universe. ... Faith healing is the use of solely spiritual means in treating disease, which, in some cases, is accompanied with the refusal of modern medical techniques. ...

Early life

Bessette was born in Saint-Grégoire d'Iberville, Quebec (then Canada East), a small town situated 40 kilometers east of Montreal. His was a working class family — his father was a lumberman and his mother saw to the education of her ten children. Alfred was orphaned at age twelve, after which he tried different trades, but none proved promising for his future. Canada East (French, Canada-Est) was the eastern portion of the Province of Canada. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ... This article needs cleanup. ...

When Alfred was twenty years old, he joined many Canadians who were emigrating to the United States to work in the mills of New England. When, in 1867, the new Canadian Confederation was formed, he returned to his native country. This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... 1867 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Canadian Confederation, or the Confederation of Canada, was the process that ultimately brought together a union among the provinces, colonies and territories of British North America to form a Dominion of the British Empire, which today is a federal nation state simply known as Canada. ...

He was given the task of doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Côte-des-Neiges, Quebec. He fulfilled this function for some 40 years while at the same time doing innumerable odd jobs for the community.

Call to devotion

The Pastor of his parish, Fr. André Provençal, noticed the devotion and generosity of the young man. He decided to present Alfred to the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal. Regardless of his frail health and his limited schooling, in 1870, Alfred was accepted and became known as Brother André. 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

His great confidence in Saint Joseph inspired him to recommend this devotion to all those who were afflicted in various ways. Many claimed that they were cured and were grateful that their prayers had been heard. Because he wanted Saint Joseph to be honoured, in 1904, Brother André began the construction of a small chapel on the side of Mount Royal, facing the College. Saint Joseph, also referred to as Joseph the Betrothed and as Joseph of Nazareth, was the foster-father of Jesus, according to the New Testament (Matthew 1:16; Luke 3:23). ... 1904 is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Alternate uses: Mount Royal (disambiguation) Mount Royal (French: mont Royal) is a mountain on the Island of Montreal, immediately north of downtown Montréal, Québec, Canada, the city to which it gave its name. ...

The reputation of Brother André grew and soon he was known as the miracle-worker of Mount Royal. He had to face the attacks and the criticism of numerous adversaries. However, the support of the diocesan Church and alleged cures without apparent explanation made him the object of popular acclaim.

In 1924 construction of the Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal Oratory began on the side of the mountain, near Brother André's chapel. The funding for what would become the largest church outside of Rome came from Brother André's supporters from around the world. St. ... The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ...

Death and beatification

When he died a million people filed before his coffin. His heart is preserved in a monstrance in the oratory. It was stolen in March 1973, but recovered in December 1974. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982. Categories: Stub | Roman Catholic Sacraments and Other Practices ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... In Catholicism, beatification (from Greek μακαριος, makarios) is a recognition accorded by the church of a dead persons accession to Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name (intercession of saints). ... Official papal image of John Paul II. His Holiness Pope John Paul II, né Karol Józef Wojtyła (born May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland), is the current Pope — the Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. ... May 23 is the 143rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (144th in leap years). ...

External links

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online (http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=42128)