January 6th - Blessed Andre Bessette, Healer
Alfred Bessette was born on August 9, 1845, not far from Montreal, Canada.
He was the eighth of twelve children. When Alfred was nine, his father, a
wood cutter, died in an accident at work. Three years later, Alfred's
mother
died of tuberculosis, leaving the children orphans. They were split up and
placed in different homes. Alfred went to live with his aunt and uncle.
Because his family had been so poor and he was often sick, Alfred had very
little education. So for the next thirteen years he tried learning
different
trades like farming, shoemaking and baking. He even worked in a factory in
Connecticut. But his health always failed him.
When Alfred was twenty-five, he joined the order of Holy Cross and chose
the
name Brother Andre. He spent the next forty years as a general maintenance
man and messenger. The remaining years of his life were spent as the
doorkeeper for the order's college. Here, Brother Andre's healing power
became known. When people came to ask him for a cure, he would tell them
to
first thank God for their suffering because it was so valuable. Then he
would pray with them. Most of them were cured. Brother Andre always
refused
credit for the healing. He insisted it had been the person's faith and the
power of St. Joseph.
Brother Andre had a great love for the Eucharist and for St. Joseph. When
he
was young, he dreamt he saw a big church, but he couldn't tell where it
was.
Gradually, he came to realize that God wanted a church in honor of St.
Joseph. That church was to be built on top of Mount Royale in Montreal,
Canada. Prayer and the sacrifices of Brother Andre and many other people
made the dream come true. The magnificent church honoring St. Joseph was
built. It is a testimony to Brother Andre's tremendous faith. Pilgrims
come
to Mount Royale all year and from distant places. They want to honor St.
Joseph. They want to show their trust in his loving care, as Brother Andre
did.
Brother Andre died peacefully on January 6, 1937. Nearly a million people
climbed Mount Royale to St. Joseph's Oratory for his funeral.
They came in spite of sleet and snow to say good-bye to their dear friend.
He was proclaimed "blessed" on May 23, 1982, by Pope John Paul II.
Blessed Andre Bessette believed not in himself but in the power of God's
love for him. In him we can see that God reveals his power ****ning through
our human weakness.
Saint Quote:
"We can actually come and adore Him like the shepherds; we can prostrate
ourselves before Him like the Magi; we need no longer regret our not
having
been present at Bethlehem."
--Bl. Julian Eymard
Bible Quote
69 And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the
words of eternal life. (John 6:69)
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Today is the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord.
This word epiphany means manifestation. In this feast the
Church celebrates the threefold manifestation of Christ:
to the Magi (the gentiles), in His Baptism, at which a
voice from God in the heavens declared "This is My
Beloved Son", and through the miracle of the changing
of water to wine at the wedding feast at Cana.
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Another prayer for the Holy Souls, "Deliver Them from Purgatory":
My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine agony in the Garden,
in Thy scourging and crowning with thorns, on the way to Calvary,
in Thy crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in purgatory,
and especially on those that are most forsaken; do Thou deliver them
from the terrible torments they endure;
call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in paradise.
Amen.
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Prayer to consecrate the New Year
O Sweet Savior of my Soul! From the depths of my heart I salute Thee at
the
beginning of this year. O my Infant Savior, I most confidently approach
Thy
crib and implore Thee to give efficacy by Thy Precious Blood to the
resolutions I now make, of living from this moment in the manner I shall
wish to have done when time shall be about to close forever on me.
May each action of the coming year be offered in union with the adorable
actions of Thy mortal life; may every intention be renounced save that of
laboring for Thy love and glory. O merciful Jesus! By the helplessness of
Thy Holy Infancy, strengthen my weakness and fortify my resolution
nevermore
to offend Thee. Amen.
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