For Catholics or other believers in Christ, a must-see in Montréal is the truly awe-inspiring Saint Joseph's Oratory, begun in 1904 as a small chapel in Mount Royal. Its founder was Alfred Bessette, who later became known as Brother André.
It's been some years since I was there, but on my last visit, you could still see Brother André's heart and many other relics of a good and holy man who was venerated by generations of worshippers. Over the decades people have come in their thousands to the Oratory, to ask Brother André to intercede for them with God and His Blessed Mother.
Some people scoff. But there can be no doubt that Brother André's compassion towards human suffering and his humble demeanour inspired thousands who came to the chapel believing in his powers and seeking healing. And they received it, as testify the countless crutches, prosthetic limbs and so on brought to the shrine by those who were helped.
Last October, the Church's Theological Commission for the Causes of Saints declared “scientifically unexplainable” at least one of the thousands of healing miracles attributed to Brother André. The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, recognized the miracle in December, making possible Brother André's official canonization.
The dates for the canonization of Brother André and five other new saints will be revealed in an official decree after a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican this coming Friday.
It is all too evident that the Church does not hold the special place in the minds and lives of most
Québecois that She did before the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s. The real "religion" of Québec now is the Canadiens! But for the millions of Québecois who still keep the Faith, the recognition of sainthood and "the communion of saints" is still important.
Brother André helped shape the religious beliefs of millions of Canadian Catholics, many of whom now pray that his canonization will spark a renewal of religious fervour and devotion.
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