Brother André

Brother André, né Alfred Bessette, faith healer, religious counsellor (b at St-Grégoire-d'Iberville, Canada East 9 Aug 1845; d at Montréal 6 Jan 1937). Although he was functionally illiterate, unimposing in speech and stature and never advanced beyond the most lowly positions within his religious order, the Congregation of the Holy Cross (CSC), Brother André became the most popular religious figure in Québec in the 20th century.

Tens of thousands attributed their miraculous healings to André's intervention with his patron, St Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary. His work scandalized many priests, physicians and sophisticated Catholics; but in 1904 his admirers, many from blue-collar families, helped him to build a small oratory in honour of Joseph on the slopes of Mount Royal. Some years later the church hierarchy became involved. A basilica, still Montréal's most imposing landmark, was constructed 1924-55. The church organized pilgrimages and the oratory became the liturgical centre for the Catholic trade union movement of Québec. Half a million visitors still come to the oratory every year - the only major urban shrine in Canada.

Despite his reputation as a faith healer, Brother André's primary concern was to promote the worship of the suffering Christ through the patronage of St Joseph. Afflicted by poor health throughout his life, André encouraged his closest followers to accept their suffering rather than to seek healing, since suffering brings one closer to Jesus on the cross.