Saint Andre Bessette

Today we celebrate the memorial of Canada's recently canonized saint, Saint Andre Bessette. This is also a special celebration for my spiritual director because he is a distant relative of Saint Andre and was able to attend the canonization this past October in Rome. Saint Andre was a professed religious of the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Montreal, Canada. He was a man of prayer, a friend of the poor, and he served as a porter and custodian throughout his religious life. Saint Andre is known as the founder of Saint Joseph Oratory in Montreal because of his great devotion to Saint Joseph. Saint Andre died on January 5, 1937. He was beatified by the Venerable John Paul II on May 23, 1982 and canonized on October 17, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI (Loose-Leaf Lectionary, 260). This is a wonderful memorial to celebrate during this Christmas Season because of Saint Andre's devotion to the foster-father of Jesus, Saint Joseph, and being a simple, holy, prayerful man. Good qualities for us as we strive to be disciples of the Lord. May this new saint, Saint Andre Bessette, intercede for us and help us with his prayers! God Bless You!!!