Homily: Memorial of Andre Bessette
Memorial of Andre Bessette (Gospel of Luke 4:14-22)
Br. Andre Bessette (1845-1937) could be said to be the patron saint of the rejected. He was thought to be unimportant much of his early life. Alfred Bessette was a sickly child who was the eighth of fourteen children. He lived in the village of Saint Gregoire which was near Montreal Canada.
By the age of twelve both of his parents had died. He would not have the opportunity to be very well educated because he needed to start earning his way. He worked as a farm hand, shoemaker, blacksmith and baker. He proved to be little good at any of these things. He finally ended up migrating to the United States and became a factory worker.
At the age of 25, Alfred was drawn to a religious vocation. He wanted to be a Brother of the Holy Cross. He spent a year in novitiate, but his poor health disqualified him from being a brother. His bishop intervened and finally he was admitted as a brother in 1874. As he liked to say his superiors showed him the door and that is where he stayed. He was a janitor, porter and infirmarian at the College of Our Lady of the Snows near Montreal.
He lived in a little room off main door of the college. His window faced Mount Royal. His favorite saint was St. Joseph. He dreamed of building a church to honor Joseph. The owner of the property that the church was to be built on was reluctant to sell, but finally he did. Andre collected $200 to build a temporary chapel. Br. Andre solicited funds for many decades to build a larger church which was finally accomplished.
Br. Andre was known as a faith healer. He took oil from a lamp and when someone was sick, he would pray over them and anoint them. Many were cured in this way. His reputation grew. Thousands came to
see him and at one point he was receiving 80,000 letters a day asking for his prayers.
Br. Andre’ was known as a compassionate listener. Many came to see him at the church door and poured out their hearts to him. Each person was important to him. When Br. Andre’ died a million mourners came to pay their respects. The man who was rejected so often was embraced in the end by the faithful.
Reflection Questions:
- Does someone have to be well educated to be holy? What constitutes holiness?
- When I’m rejected do I become angry or more compassionate? How did rejection effect St. Andre’?
Dear Parishioners,
Seton and Alleman students returned to their classrooms yesterday. This is a time of high anxiety for all. We know that students need to be in school for their personal development. Please pray for all our students and teachers that they will remain safe and healthy.
I also received word yesterday that another nursing home is closed to visitors. Almost all nursing homes are now under quarantine. We were just starting to be able to distribute communion to those who were in nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, but now we are not to visit.
I will go to the hospital and visit and if I am called to the nursing home to anoint someone, I can usually go in. Don’t hesitate to call me and I will try to visit those in most need.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark