Son of a woodcutter, and
eighth of twelve children. His father died in a work-related accident, his
mother of tuberculosis, and he was adopted at age twelve by a farmer uncle
who insisted he work for his keep. Farmhand, shoemaker, baker, blacksmith,
factory worker. At 25 he applied to join the Congregation of the Holy
Cross; initially refused due to poor health, but he gained the backing of
Bishop Bourget, and was accepted.
Doorkeeper at Notre Dame College, Montreal. Sacristan, laundry worker and
messenger. Spent much of each night in prayer. On his windowsill, facing
Mount Royal, was a small statue of Saint Joseph, to whom Andre was
especially devoted. "Some day," he believed, "Saint Joseph will be honored
on Mount Royal."
Andre had a special ministry to the sick. He would rub the sick person
with oil from a lamp in the college chapel, and many were healed. Word of
his power spread, and when an epidemic broke out at a nearby college,
Andre volunteered to help; no one died. The trickle of sick people to his
door became a flood. His superiors were uneasy; diocesan authorities were
suspicious; doctors called him a quack. "I do not cure," he always said.
"Saint Joseph cures." By his death, he was receiving 80,000 letters each
year from the sick who sought his prayers and healing.
For many years the Holy Cross authorities had tried to buy land on Mount
Royal. Brother Andre and others climbed the steep hill and planted medals
of Saint Joseph on it, and soon after, the owners yielded, which incident
helped the current devotion to Saint Joseph by those looking to buy or
sell a home. Andre collected money to build a small chapel and received
visitors there, listening to their problems, praying, rubbing them with
Saint Joseph's oil, and curing many. The chapel is still in use.
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta65.htm |
