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"Do whatever He tells you."   Jn 2:5


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St. Andre Bessette

Feast Day January 6
Patron Saint of Hurting Hearts

We in the MMG can follow St. Andre’s example as we continue our efforts to reach hurting hearts and join together in prayer for all our prodigals to return to the Faith. He had little to offer: poor health, weakness, humble position. But, through his perseverance in prayer, deep faith, and trust in God and His saints, especially St. Joseph‘s intercession, many bodies and souls have been restored.

Who is St Andre Bessette?

     St. André Bessette is a new saint, canonized October 2010, by Pope Benedict XVI. 
       St Andre was a religious brother of the Holy Cross Congregation. His parish priest inspired a devotion to Saint Joseph. Throughout his life, St. André engaged in long, deep conversations with the Saint.
     St. Andre was sickly and weak for his entire 91 years. After beginning his humble job of answering the door and welcoming guests at Notre Dame college in Montreal, very public, miraculous healings began. He often used oil from the sanctuary light (he called it “St Joseph’s oil”) or used St Joseph medals to anoint injuries. Sometimes, with just his spoken word people were healed.
    St. Andre encouraged perseverance in prayer—especially prayer invoking St. Joseph to whom he gave all credit for the healings.
  
He was especially open to non-Catholics, and lapsed and lukewarm Catholics. The Oratory saw thousands of conversions take place. His biographer wrote, “St. André looked upon the humility of the non-Catholic, in coming to a Catholic brother for a cure, as the beginning of faith.”
      Though known for his devotion to St Joseph, he was focused on the Lord’s Passion and led weekly Stations of the Cross. He often invoked Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows and prayed many rosaries.
     St. Andre’s advice to us is visible at the Oratory. On the statue of St Joseph holding the Child Jesus are his words, “Go To Joseph!”

Quotes from St. Andre

'When you invoke St Joseph, you don’t have to say much. Say, ‘If you were in my place, St Joseph, what would you do? Well, pray for this on my behalf.’ “
                      ~St. André Bessette

“It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures,” ~St. Andre Bessette

Prayer to Obtain a Conversion
From the book “Go To Joseph”

O glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, who merited to be called "just" by the Holy Spirit, I urgently recommend to you the soul of (Name), which Jesus redeemed at the price of His Precious Blood. You know how deplorable is the state and how unhappy the life of those who have banished this loving Savior from their hearts, and how greatly they are exposed to the danger of losing Him eternally. Permit not, I beseech you, that a soul so dear to me should continue any longer in its evil ways; preserve it from the danger that threatens it; touch the heart of the prodigal child and conduct him/her back to the bosom of the fondest of fathers. Abandon him/ her not, I implore you, till you have opened to him/ her the gates of the Heavenly city, where he/she will praise and bless you throughout eternity for the happiness he/she will owe to your powerful intercession. Amen.