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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!”
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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.
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