Holy Cross Brother Andre Bessette was just canonized in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. Here is a wonderful Saint who shows us that we do not have to do big things in order to become holy, but that we are to make every moment of our life, every act, every deed of our day, an act of love for God.
For forty years, Brother Andre was the doorkeeper, the porter, for Notre Dame College in Montreal run by the Community of the Holy cross. He once joked, “When I joined this community my superiors showed me the door, and I stayed there for forty years.” In that job he answered the phone and greeted the parents of the young people and all those who visited the college seeking material help. Brother Andre made time for everyone and treated everyone as if they were the only person in the world, as if they were Jesus.
At his canonization, Pope Benedict said, “Brother Andre showed boundless charity and did everything possible to soothe the despair of those who confided in him. With little instruction, he nevertheless understood what was essential to his faith. For him, to believe meant to submit freely and lovingly to Divine Will. Everything existed through the mystery of Jesus, he lived the beatitude of the pure of heart, that of personal rectitude. It is thanks to this simplicity, he showed many God.”
Brother Andre had a deep devotion to St. Joseph, who he saw as an icon of a masculinity, courage, and love for the son of God, of a man deeply surrendered to the Divine Will, as he wished to be. Andre convinced his congregation to have a small chapel built in honor of St. Joseph, and it is there, that over the years, thousands of people would come to venerate St. Joseph and to pray with Brother Andre, through whom there have been countless miraculous healings. Thousands experienced emotional and physical healing at that small chapel to St. Joseph.
Whatever the trial, Brother Andre urged people to pray with confidence and perseverance while remaining open, like St. Joseph, to God’s will.
Openness to the will of God is the foundation for any healing, any change, any spiritual growth we should hope to experience. Yes, God hears our prayers for healing. As Brother Andre said, “There is so little distance between heaven and earth that God always hears us. Nothing but a thin veil separates us from God.” Yet, it is often a greater good that God gives us the grace and strength to bear our sufferings with trust and abandon to the Divine Will.
“Do not try to have your trials taken away from you”, he said, “rather, ask for the grace to endure them well”.
Brother allowed himself to be fully present to the sadness of others while always retaining a joyful nature and good humor. In the words of Pope Benedict, “For him, everything spoke of God and His presence.” Through his intercession may we receive the healing God wishes for us and follow his example of prayer and love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That like St. Andre, Christians may grow in attentiveness to all those in need.
That during this year of St. Joseph, all those in need of healing may be filled with new hope and strength.
That those dedicated to the care of the sick may be instruments of God’s healing.
In thanksgiving for all healing received through the mercy of God.
That those who suffer may experience the peace of Christ.
For the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who have fought and died for our freedom, and for x.
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