SAINT ANDRÉ BESSETTE (1845-1937)
January 6
	This "miracle man of Montreal" started from very humble origins. The youngest of twelve and physically weak from birth, many thought he would die young. As a child, his father and mother both passed three years apart, orphaning him and his siblings. The family was split up, and due to his poor health, André moved between numerous jobs before joining the Congregation of Holy Cross. Despite a letter from his pastor claiming "I am sending you a saint," the brothers had reservations, both about his physical ability and being illiterate. With encouragement from the bishop, he was eventually assigned as the doorkeeper at Notre-Dame. His duties were simple—welcoming guests, providing direction, delivering mail—but he left a profound impact on those he interacted with. He later joked about entering religious life only to be shown the door, where he stayed for forty years. Throughout life, he had a special devotion to St. Joseph and even built a small chapel in his name. Approved only to build as much as he could afford, André earned extra money cutting students' hair and adding on to the chapel over the years. He was known for welcoming the poor and visiting the sick, as well as many reported healings. His reputation flourished, but he always credited power to Joseph's intercession. His chapel became a pilgrimage site and place of healing, later expanded to a basilica that was finished after he died. A reported 10,000 miracles were attributed to André at his passing, and over a million people attended his funeral. André’s life exemplified great humility, obedience, hard work, and steadfast faith. His devotion to St. Joseph and ultimately God reminds us still today: "it is with the smallest brushes that the artists paint the most beautiful pictures."
—Meghan McDonagh