Brother Andre Will Become First Saint of the Congregation of Holy Cross

This week our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, held a consistory of all the Cardinals in Rome to obtain their votum on the canonization of Blessed Andre Bessette, C.S.C. The Cardinals affirmed the Pope's decision and so he announced that Brother Andre will be canonized in Rome on October 17, 2010.

Brother Andre's early life was marked by physical frailty, poverty, illiteracy and family tragedy; amidst them all, prayer was his peace and joy. His parish priest encouraged the orphaned Andre to seek the consecrated life as his vocation for he believed it was there that Andre would find his true home and deepest fulfillment. In recommending Andre, his pastor told the Congregation of Holy Cross that he was sending them a saint.  And so it was. God chooses the weak and makes them strong. Andre was strong in faith, mighty in zeal. His humility allowed the healing strength of God to fill his being and thus bring healing to others. Through the intercession of St. Joseph, Brother Andre taught us all to pray and so to find the strength needed to live our lives in the truth of God's love.

Brother Andre's Congregation of Holy Cross is international in scope with ministries reaching to the ends of the earth. In every Holy Cross community and chapel, Brother Andre is present and revered. He encourages us to pray always so as to bring God s healing love to all in need. Through the world-wide mission of Holy Cross, Blessed Brother Andre became a universal figure; and now, in his canonization, he will be a saint for the universal Church. He calls all of us to pray unceasingly with him, through St. Joseph, to bring faith and healing to a broken world. May his humble yet persistent determination be our inspiration and our strength! As Brother Andre found his home in the consecrated life may new vocations flourish through his intercession!

We are indeed blessed to have a role model in the family of Holy Cross like Br. Andre. Soon we will be able to ask for the intercessions of Saint Brother Andre at the conclusion of all of our prayers. To God be the glory for the Congregation of Holy Cross!

Find out more about Brother Andre by watching a video» The Miracle Man of Montreal or you can learn more about this great yet humble man by clicking Blessed Brother Andre which will link you to an article written in the South Bend Tribune at the University of Notre Dame.